Colbee
A modern name likely derived from the French surname Colbey.
Name Census estimates that about 40 living Americans carry the first name Colbee. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 85.0% of registrations being female. The average person named Colbee today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Colbee births was 2012 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Colbee. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Colbee. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
40
~ 1 in 8,568,858 Americans
Peak year
2012
11 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2012 SSA rank
#11,054
Tracked since 2010
Gender
Gender distribution for Colbee
Colbee leans heavily female at 85.0% of total registrations, but 6 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Colbee as a male name
- Ranked #11,054 in 2012
- 6 male births in 2012
- Peak: 2012 (6 births)
Colbee as a female name
- Ranked #15,691 in 2023
- 5 female births in 2023
- Peak: 2014 (8 births)
Popularity
Colbee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Colbee from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 35 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Colbee by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Colbee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Colbee
The name Colbee is a unique and intriguing one, with roots that stretch back through various cultures and languages. Its origins can be traced to the ancient Celtic tribes that once inhabited parts of modern-day Ireland and Scotland. The word "colbee" itself is believed to be derived from the Old Irish word "colbtha," which means "strong" or "resolute."
In the early medieval period, the name Colbee was relatively common among the Celtic peoples, particularly in regions where Gaelic languages were spoken. It was often given to male children as a symbol of strength and resilience, qualities that were highly valued in those times.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Colbee can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a Colbee mac Áedáin, who was a prominent chieftain in the 7th century AD. This historical figure played a significant role in the political and military affairs of his time.
As the centuries passed, the name Colbee spread beyond the Celtic regions and gained popularity in other parts of Europe. In the 12th century, a notable figure named Colbee de Montfort lived in France and was a member of the influential Montfort family. He is mentioned in several historical records from that era.
During the Renaissance period, the name Colbee experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly in Italy. One of the most famous individuals to bear this name was Colbee Brancaleni, a renowned artist and architect who lived in the 16th century. His works, including several churches and palaces, can still be admired in various Italian cities today.
In the 17th century, a Scottish nobleman named Colbee Campbell played a pivotal role in the religious and political conflicts that engulfed Britain at the time. He was a staunch supporter of the Presbyterian cause and is remembered for his unwavering commitment to his beliefs.
Another notable figure with the name Colbee was a French explorer and adventurer who lived in the 18th century. Colbee Dumont is credited with leading several expeditions into the uncharted territories of North America, contributing to the expansion of European knowledge about the continent.
While the name Colbee may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and diverse cultural associations make it a fascinating and meaningful choice for those seeking a unique and meaningful name with deep roots.
People
Colbee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Colbee as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Colbee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Colbee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 40 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Colbee going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 8,568,858 US residents.
Is Colbee a common name?
We classify Colbee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 51% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 40 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Colbee most popular?
The single biggest year for Colbee was 2012, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Colbee is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Colbee in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Colbee a female name?
Yes, 85.0% of people registered as Colbee in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Colbee still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Colbee in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Colbee can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Colbee?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.