Coby is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #1079 in 2010 with 179 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2001 with 516 births ranking #462. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 14.8%. In 2010, approximately 1 in every 10,717 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.