Coby is a moderately popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #367 in 2025 with 114 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2019 with 213 births ranking #236. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 612.5%. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 2,385 boys born was named Coby. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Coby is a compact English short form of Jacob. That gives it a much clearer source line than the earlier broad discussion of several overlapping variant families.
As a nickname-style form, Coby works because it sounds casual and familiar while still resting on a major biblical classic. Its modern use is more flexible, but the Jacob connection is the clearest core route.