Is Bob a sexy name?
Executive summary
“Bob” as a name carries a clear historical meaning — it is a diminutive of Robert meaning “bright fame” and remains recorded in modern name databases, but it is no longer a top-ranked baby name in the U.S. (Nameberry lists Bob at #939) [1]. Cultural associations with “bob” overwhelmingly appear in hair-fashion coverage in 2025 — the bob haircut is repeatedly described as the dominant, chic trend across fashion outlets (Vogue, WhoWhatWear, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Elle) [2] [3] [4] [5] [6].
1. What “Bob” literally means and how popular it is
The name Bob is presented by baby-name authorities as a short form of Robert and is described as meaning “bright fame”; contemporary name lists show it well down the rankings (Nameberry reports Bob at #939 in the U.S.) [1]. Other baby-name sites confirm Bob’s historical presence and note that it once ranked higher historically but is no longer common among newborns (OurBabyNamer documents higher earlier ranks and now-not-top-1000 status) [7].
2. Why people ask whether “Bob” is “sexy” — meaning is cultural, not statistical
Calling a name “sexy” is subjective and tied to cultural associations, media portrayals and current trends. The provided sources emphasize “bob” overwhelmingly as a hairstyle in 2025 — magazines and style outlets treat the bob cut as fashionable and desirable, which can transfer stylish connotations to the word “bob” in popular conversation (Vogue, WhoWhatWear, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Elle) [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]. Available sources do not mention studies or polls that measure whether people find the given name “Bob” sexy specifically.
3. Fashion’s takeover of the word “bob” in 2025
Multiple major outlets document that the bob haircut is “defining 2025,” appearing on celebrities and runways and spawning many named variants (Italian bob, Butterfly Bob, Slob, Pob, etc.), which reinforces a contemporary, stylish image associated with that word (WhoWhatWear; Vogue; Bangstyle; Cosmopolitan; Glamour) [2] [3] [8] [4] [5]. That repeated literary framing of “bob” as fashionable may lead lay audiences to conflate the haircut’s sex appeal with attitudes toward the personal name.
4. The name’s pop‑culture baggage and generational shifts
Sources note famous Bobs (Bob Dylan, Bob Barker appear in name entries) and show that the name had stronger popularity in the past, peaking decades ago (OurBabyNamer cites highest rank in 1934 and peak counts in 1959) [7]. Those older cultural touchstones may make “Bob” feel retro or classic to some listeners; fashion press, by contrast, treats “bob” as modern and edgy in the context of hair trends [2] [3] [4]. Both frames coexist in the available reporting.
5. How to interpret “sexy” in this conversation and what the sources say
If “sexy” means fashionable or stylish today, the evidence shows the bob haircut is widely presented as chic and desirable across style media in 2025, which could indirectly lend the word positive, sexy connotations (Vogue; WhoWhatWear; Cosmopolitan; Glamour; Elle) [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]. If “sexy” means that people find the personal name Bob intrinsically attractive, the sources do not provide surveys, experiments or social‑science data to establish that; available sources do not mention public polling about the name’s sex appeal.
6. Competing perspectives and an implicit agenda in coverage
Style outlets promote and amplify trends because their audiences seek aspirational looks; coverage of “the bob” therefore carries an editorial agenda to sell a haircut as desirable and timely (Vogue; WhoWhatWear; Cosmopolitan) [2] [3] [4]. Name databases and demographic trackers focus on origin and ranking rather than desirability, producing a more neutral account of Bob as historically common but presently rare among newborns (Nameberry; OurBabyNamer) [1] [7]. Readers should note that “sexy” in pop culture is constructed by fashion media, not measured by the name registries cited here.
7. Bottom line for someone deciding whether “Bob” is a “sexy name”
If you mean “sexy” as in currently stylish slang, the word “bob” enjoys high-fashion cachet because of the haircut trend [2] [3] [4]. If you mean whether the personal name Bob is widely perceived as attractive, the available reporting gives popularity and etymology but no direct evidence of perceived sexiness — available sources do not mention polling or studies that answer that specific question [1] [7].