US Popularity Rank: 1137

Origin: Norse

Meaning: Someone who lives in a coal town; Settlement; Son of Oda

There's nothing cheesy about this gender-neutral name with its Norse and Irish origins. In Norse, Colby means "someone who lives in a coal town." Spelled Kolby, it means "settlement." This name comes from Koli, a personal Norse name derived from kol, a word for charcoal. Colby is also linked to the Irish name Coby, which translates to "Son of Oda." With all these fascinating roots, the name jumped in popularity in the early naughties but has slowly slipped down the rankings, meaning baby probably won't encounter too many other Colbys in their life.