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Forbes

Quick answerThe given name 'Forbes' originates from a Scottish Gaelic place name, meaning "field" or "district" (from *forba* or *forbais*), and is derived from a toponym in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Scottish · Boy · 2 syllables

F
Rare

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderBoy
US Rank#9,176
TrendStable
Peak year1918
Syllables2
OriginScottish
LanguageScottish
CultureScottish
Letters6
Numerology11 Chaldean 9
Global rank#727

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Forbes

The given name 'Forbes' originates from a Scottish Gaelic place name, meaning "field" or "district" (from *forba* or *forbais*), and is derived from a toponym in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Cross-referenced with Behind the Name. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.

Etymology

The given name 'Forbes' originates from a Scottish Gaelic place name, meaning "field" or "district" (from *forba* or *forbais*), and is derived from a toponym in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is primarily used in Scottish and English-speaking cultures, with no specific religious association, and historically notable as the surname of the prominent Forbes clan, who held power in northeastern Scotland since the 12th century.

Forbes currently ranks #9,176 in the United States as a boy's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1918.

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