Bob Name Meaning, Origin & Gender

Bob Name at a Glance

Name	Bob
Meaning	Diminutive of Robert: Famed, bright; shining. An all-time favorite boys' name since the Middle Ages. Famous Bearers: Scottish national hero Robert the Bruce and novelist Robert Ludlum.
Origin	German
Gender	Boy

What Does the Name Bob Mean?

According to the information recorded in our baby name database, Bob means “Diminutive of Robert: Famed, bright; shining. An all-time favorite boys' name since the Middle Ages. Famous Bearers: Scottish national hero Robert the Bruce and novelist Robert Ludlum”. Name meanings can vary between languages, regions and naming traditions, so families may also wish to confirm a meaning within the cultural or linguistic context that matters to them.

Bob Name Origin

Our database records Bob under German origin. Browse more German baby names to compare other names in the same origin collection.

Is Bob a Boy or Girl Name?

In our database, Bob is listed as a boy name. Usage can differ across countries, languages and families.

Choosing the Name Bob

When considering Bob for a baby, you may want to compare its recorded meaning and origin with family traditions, pronunciation, spelling, initials, middle names and how the full name sounds with the family name.