Kolby is a masculine given name, primarily used in English-speaking countries. It functions as a variant of Colby, an English surname that originated from various place names. The surname Colby itself derives from the Old Norse byname Koli, meaning "coal" or "dark" (referring to a person with a dark complexion), combined with býr, meaning "farm" or "settlement." Thus, the name Koli's settlement came to denote a location and later a surname. Usage and Popularity As a given name, Kolby began to see sporadic use in the late 20th century, likely influenced by the broader trend of using surnames as first names. While the variant spelling with a 'K' is less common than the traditional 'C' (Colby), both share similar popular roots. The popularity of the name saw a notable spike in the United States and Canada in 2001, following the appearance of Colby Donaldson (born 1974) on the reality television show Survivor. The variant Kolby also benefited from this trend, as some parents opted for a more unique spelling. Cultural References Interestingly, Kolby also exists as a place name: it was a parish of the Church of Denmark on the island of Samsø. Before merging with other parishes in 2014, the church had 550 inhabitants, with 492 being members. This geographic use, however, is unrelated to the given name's etymology and is a separate instance of the name in Scandinavian context. Meaning: Variant of Colby, meaning 'coal-dark settlement' Origin: English, from Old Norse elements Type: First name Main usage region: English-speaking countries (USA, Canada)