Tobias
Boy name · #283 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Tobias? In official American birth records, Tobias has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,201 baby boys were named Tobias, placing it at #283 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #316, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,499 boys born in 2025 was named Tobias.
Babies named Tobias per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Tobias first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 1,523 boys were named Tobias — good for #246 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Tobias against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Tobias in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Tobias is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Tobias is most common
Geography matters for names, and Tobias is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Tobias is most common in SD (2.9 per 1,000), NH (2.4 per 1,000), OK (1.7 per 1,000), NM (1.7 per 1,000), KS (1.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Tobias is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Tobias
Statistically, parents drawn to Tobias tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mathias, Isaias, Matthias, Matias, and Titus.
MathiasIsaiasMatthiasMatiasTitusLukasJosiasJeremias
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Tobias | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,201 | #283 |
| 2024 | 1,220 | #280 |
| 2023 | 1,222 | #279 |
| 2022 | 1,262 | #275 |
| 2021 | 1,243 | #276 |
| 2020 | 1,295 | #263 |
| 2019 | 1,319 | #272 |
| 2018 | 1,295 | #273 |
| 2017 | 1,344 | #269 |
| 2016 | 1,523 | #246 |
| 2015 | 1,123 | #316 |
| 2014 | 743 | #418 |
| 2013 | 568 | #486 |
| 2012 | 520 | #509 |
| 2011 | 480 | #528 |
| 2010 | 495 | #522 |
| 2009 | 536 | #503 |
| 2008 | 507 | #529 |
| 2007 | 572 | #472 |
| 2006 | 552 | #480 |
| 2005 | 523 | #480 |
| 2004 | 493 | #495 |
| 2003 | 495 | #497 |
| 2002 | 427 | #527 |
| 2001 | 365 | #569 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Tobias?
In official American birth records, the name Tobias first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Tobias a popular boy name?
Tobias ranked #283 among boys in 2025 with 1,201 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #316.
When was the name Tobias most popular?
Tobias peaked in 2016, when 1,523 American boys received the name (ranked #246 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Tobias?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,499 newborn American boys was named Tobias. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.