Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Toby

32 replies

aureliacecilia · 31/08/2020 19:32

Not Tobias, just Toby.

DS has a name like Alexander or Nicholas. He's always Alexander, never Alex; always Nicholas, never Nick. We expect his school friends will call him the shortened version in the future but for now he goes by his full name.

Now we are expecting DC#2 and we really like Toby. Tobias is nice too but I can't see we would ever call him it. But would it be odd to have Alexander and Toby rather than Alexander and Tobias?

What do you think of just Toby?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
sorryforswearing · 03/09/2020 01:38

I think of Toby as a name on its own. Unfortunately I don’t like it but we can’t all like the same thing.

Carouselfish · 03/09/2020 00:28

Toby is a 'nice guy'. I can't imagine an heroic Toby or a person with get up and go. It's cuddly and sweet.

IVflytrap · 31/08/2020 21:40

I prefer Toby over Tobias (can't get past the word "bias" in Tobias, for some reason) so I'd just go for Toby, personally

For what it's worth, Toby is actually historically a full name in its own right and has been used so for centuries, not simply a shortening/nickname for Tobias. Kind of how in the same way Barnaby isn't a nickname for Barnabas, and Mary isn't a nickname for Maria. They're all just different ways of historically anglicising the same biblical names.

AdriannaP · 31/08/2020 21:23

I know an adult Toby and it really doesn’t suit a tall adult man. Tobias is much better - what 30 year old man wants to keep using Toby?

Original poster
aureliacecilia · 31/08/2020 21:17

Great idea, @reallifegetsintheway2!

OP posts:
Sforsh49 · 31/08/2020 21:16

I've got a long name, think Samantha (for example) and it's always been shortened to Sam, even as a baby. My brother has a long name like your eldest which has never been shortened by family, but has by his friends (and me). I kind of wish they'd just called me Sam! Go with what works for you.

I much prefer Toby to Tobias.

reallifegetsintheway2 · 31/08/2020 21:09

My son is Toby - he is that on his birth certificate. His middle name is Alexander - to compensate for the lack of syllables in his first name Wink

june2007 · 31/08/2020 21:03

I preefer Tobias but know some who are Toby.

Flymetothestars · 31/08/2020 21:01

Alexander and Toby are perfect @aureliacecilia

topcat2014 · 31/08/2020 20:58

I also love the name troy if you are into names beginning with T!

Original poster
aureliacecilia · 31/08/2020 20:54

Thank you.

We've got months to decide but it's nice to read the comments on Toby v. Tobias.

I see Toby as a name like Harry - I know it's technically a nickname for Henry but it's absolutely used as a name in its own right. I think Toby is very similar. I don't think I'd be giving this a second thought if Harry were our preferred choice.

DS has a three syllable name that's currently in the top 20. It's moved up the rankings rapidly since he was born. I've got a feeling Toby and Tobias will go the same way!

OP posts:
nutellatoast · 31/08/2020 20:53

I love the name Toby. It was top of my list but DH hates it having known a particularly unpleasant Toby. I think it's fine to just call him Toby not Tobias.

dicksplash · 31/08/2020 20:45

Lobe it. I have one and still love his name.

Anappleaday1 · 31/08/2020 20:38

Sorry just realised your ds isn't actually Alexander, but I'll stand by my point - just Toby is fine!

Anappleaday1 · 31/08/2020 20:37

I would just use Toby, I may be biased because I love Toby and dislike Tobias. But, I think Toby is a name in it's own right so not an issue next to Alexander. I can see it would be odd if it were something like Alexander and Ben (not Benjamin). Alexander and Toby go nicely together, and they're not always going to come as a pair anyway!

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 31/08/2020 20:24

The op asked whether the name should be Toby or Tobias, not your personal opinion on the name. You made it personal.

SandysMam · 31/08/2020 20:21

Sandy’s not my kids name. No need to get personal, the OP asked for opinions.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 31/08/2020 20:16

Sandy is pretty drippy too 😂

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 31/08/2020 20:15

It’s not a wet name, it’s a fabulous name. The biggest drip I knew was a George, doesn’t mean I think all George’s are drips.

Fromthebirdsnest · 31/08/2020 20:14

Toby is a great name not at all wet 😏 how rude ...

Fromthebirdsnest · 31/08/2020 20:13

I do think a full name looks better on a CV tbh but you do you , if you want to call him Toby do it x congratulations op 🎉🎊❤️ X

BoggiesBonnieBelle · 31/08/2020 20:13

We have an Alexander and a James. We've never thought that the different number of syllables was a problem.

SandysMam · 31/08/2020 20:11

The biggest drip I ever knew was called Toby. Sorry OP, I think it’s such a wet name for a boy.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 31/08/2020 20:06

I think kitten it’s just that his sibling has a 4 syllable much longer name used in full all the time. He will have the option of Alex, Al, Lex, Xander, Xan, Sandy. Toby won’t of he’s just Toby.

I would imagine most Tobys aren’t Tobias.

CruCru · 31/08/2020 20:05

Toby is a nice name. I must admit that it would never occur to me that a Toby I meet might actually be a Tobias - I think they are separate names (like Luke and Lucas).

Swipe left for the next trending thread