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Baby names

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

Original poster

Bobby - is it too common?

116 replies

LoubyLou92 · 04/05/2024 14:14

Thoughts on the name Bobby for a boy? I like both spellings Bobby and Bobbie. Is it really common? I prefer less common names for girls but struggling to find a less common boy name.

Also - I do not like Robert so the name would be Bobby.

OP posts:
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muddyford · 04/05/2024 17:02

Robert or Robin are better. You are naming him for the next 90 years, not the first six months.

Poostickers · 04/05/2024 17:01

It's not common but it is common. What if little Bobby wants to be a Barrister or a Pathologist? I really don't like these types of names, each to his own but I tend not to feel inclined towards the job applications from Dotty and Charlieeeiey. They just sound like they will be useless

Monkeytapper · 04/05/2024 17:00

I have a Bobby, he’s 16 and only know a couple of other Bobbys in his school. Robert on his BC though so if he decides to be referred to as Rob, Bob, Robbie when he’s older then fine with me.

Radicaloptimism · 04/05/2024 16:57

I’ve never met a single Bobby. I don’t mind it.

FirstFallopians · 04/05/2024 16:55

I work in construction and work alongside many Bobbys- they’re always at least mid 50s, smoke 30+ a day and have a best mate called Willie or Davy.

As a name it somehow manages to be babyish and dated at the same time, and the lack of decent shortenings puts me off big time. Prefer Rob/Robb/Robbie.

Original poster
LoubyLou92 · 04/05/2024 16:46

TerriPie · 04/05/2024 16:35

It's a very commonly used slang in Scotland for Penis..."Boabby"

I would avoid it

My Scottish colleague has actually just told me the same thing! Doesn’t seem to be a common thing here though because he was the only one in the office who had heard that previously.

OP posts:
AhNowTed · 04/05/2024 16:40

It's a family name (on his side).

Great name.

Nothing remotely babyish about it.

OP it's BOBBY. Don't do the IE.. think that's the female version.

TerriPie · 04/05/2024 16:35

It's a very commonly used slang in Scotland for Penis..."Boabby"

I would avoid it

Andylion · 04/05/2024 16:34

Everyone has different tastes and opinions - I personally really don’t like names like Michael, Robert, Oliver, John etc because I think they sound dated, but a lot of people love these names and think they’re “classic

  • *But surely the shortened versions of those names will also be dated. I have family friend, named Robert, now in his 50s. We used to call Bobby when he. Was a kid, now he is Bob. It is the “y” at the end that could limit you child as an adult.

I still dislike Jack as a name and not a nickname.

Cas112 · 04/05/2024 16:34

I LOVE it

Chewbecca · 04/05/2024 16:33

It's not common in my experience.
It is a little baby-ish. Are you ok with it transitioning to Bob as he gets older?

Ivalueloyaltyaboveallelse · 04/05/2024 16:28

I know of two children both under 11 at Dc school.

sawnotseen · 04/05/2024 16:28

I love Bobby and it's my friends sons name. After her dad and he's Bob. My cousin is Bobbie and has been since she could change her name from Beverley which she hated.

Plate24 · 04/05/2024 16:26

A name like Alfie or Jack at least sounds like a grown up name even if they’re nicknamey, it’s very limiting to have a given name of Bobby. It’s not just a nickname it’s a very babyish one that would hold him back in lots of settings and careers. Bob not much better and that’s the only option you’d be giving him. If you do it at least give him a decent middle name as back up.

Whinge · 04/05/2024 16:25

LoubyLou92 · 04/05/2024 16:20

It’s in the top 100 so tend to assume that means it’s popular, but clearly not :)

Show quote history

The top 100 is a pretty big list, and while those names are more popular it doesn't mean there are loads of them.

In 2021 there were only 772 boys registered with the name Bobby

Even the top name Noah only had 4525 boys registered with the name.

https://names.darkgreener.com/#bobby

Original poster
LoubyLou92 · 04/05/2024 16:21

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 04/05/2024 15:49

He'll spend his whole life answering people asking him if it's short for Robert (and probably wishing it was)

Remember, you're naming an adult who will need to use their name in a professional life. He'll be a cute baby with a cutsie name for 5 minutes.

I know I’m naming an adult, I personally don’t think Bobby is offensive for an adult but everyone has different opinions.

OP posts:
Original poster
LoubyLou92 · 04/05/2024 16:20

VibeOnWithMyGalPals · 04/05/2024 15:53

It’s definitely not common. I’m very surprised that you think it might be.

It’s in the top 100 so tend to assume that means it’s popular, but clearly not :)

OP posts:
Moreteaandchocolate · 04/05/2024 16:19

I don’t know any children called Bobby, it fits nicely with the trend for short versions as full names (as pp said Alfie, Archie etc) and you might start a new trend for more little Bobby’s!

VibeOnWithMyGalPals · 04/05/2024 15:53

It’s definitely not common. I’m very surprised that you think it might be.

HAF1119 · 04/05/2024 15:50

I have a child with a 'nickname' as his given name. Don't actually like the longer version - but sometimes people do call him that as I guess they just assume that is the given name. So be prepared to let go of that a bit when you get it from strangers etc! Those close to us never do but strangers do when I use his name sometimes say his name as the longer alternative when speaking to him!

Bobby is fine - Bobbie is generally the feminine version

MooseAndSquirrelLoveFlannel · 04/05/2024 15:49

He'll spend his whole life answering people asking him if it's short for Robert (and probably wishing it was)

Remember, you're naming an adult who will need to use their name in a professional life. He'll be a cute baby with a cutsie name for 5 minutes.

KittyCollar · 04/05/2024 15:45

Darkdiamond · 04/05/2024 14:36

In all honesty, I understand Bobby as an unfortunate nickname, like Dick is short for Richard, but cannot fathom deliberately giving it to my child as a name. It seems like such a non name that I can't understand giving it to a human being as their permanent, life long name. There are so many lovely strong, meaningful, interesting and /or classic boys names. It sounds like the parents got fed up deciding on a name, went to 'B' in the name book and picked the first one their finger landed on. It reminds me of that competition to name a boat and the winner was 'Boaty Mc Boatface'. Just no.

I agree. When a neighbour told me her new baby was called Bobby I just couldn’t fathom why she’d done that. No family connections. Such a non name. Lazy

DelphiniumBlue · 04/05/2024 15:42

Bobbie is the girl's version ( as in the Railway Children).
There was a thread earlier this week where someone was considering Robin as a name and the possibility of Bobby as a nickname. Might work if you prefer Robin to Robert.
I've only taught one Bobby in 15 years of teaching, but I don't know how popular it would be with under 7's.

Berlinlover · 04/05/2024 15:24

I know a three year old Bobby. Bobbie is terrible.

SagePenguin · 04/05/2024 15:23

How do you feel about the likelihood of his name being shortened to Bob as he gets older?
I'd spell it Bobby.