Coby is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #567 in 2003 with 394 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2001 with 516 births ranking #462. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 87.6%. In 2003, approximately 1 in every 5,013 boys born was named Coby. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
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.