Bob

Updated: September 20, 2021 by MomsWhoThink Staff

You may see Bob as a nickname for Robert or Bobby, but for decades, it was a given name in its own right. It even made the list of the top 100 baby names for boys in the United States. It's fallen out of favor a bit, but it's time for it to make a comeback. After all, vintage grandpa names are in right now, and what name fits that category more than Bob? It's simple, easy to spell, and it sounds great with longer middle names, like Alexander and Gabriel.

Meaning of the name Bob:

German: Fame, glory, bright, shining

Origin of the name Bob:

Bob is derived from Robert, which is derived from the Germanic name Hrodberht. It's made up of the elements “hrod,” which means “fame” or “glory,” and “berht,” which means “bright” or “shining.”

Symbolism of the name Bob:

Bob has several similar meanings, all of which can relate back to him being the apple of someone's eye. For this reason, many new parents may choose the name for their little boy. From Bob Marley to Bob Dylan, there are also many Bobs in music and pop culture who may offer some symbolism to the name.

Style of the name Bob:

Traditional

Gender of the name Bob:

Bob is a boy's name.

Pronunciation of the name Bob:

Bahb

Number of syllables in the name Bob:

One

Emotion evoked from the name Bob:

The baby name Bob evokes images of someone who is jovial and good-hearted.

Alternative spellings for the name Bob:

Bobb

Nicknames for the name Bob:

Popularity of the name Bob:

Bob was a top 1,000 baby name for boys up until 1983. It even ranked in the top 100 during the 1930s, according to the Social Security Administration. It last ranked at number 936.