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Baby names

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Original poster

Is Toby a boring name?

55 replies

CravingCoffeeCake · 09/05/2024 08:27

Due very soon with baby boy and I am still really struggling with a name! We had chosen a name, but I started having doubts and now we’re back to square one.

One of original names we had shortlisted was Toby, but I was put off it because it just seems too….standard? For context, we already have a little girl with a fairly uncommon first name. My concern is if we call baby boy Toby is it going to look like we’ve just not bothered to think of a more unusual name for him? I just remember being so excited to announce baby girls name and see everyone’s reaction but feel like with Toby people might be a bit underwhelmed.

Middle name would probably be either Toby Thomas or Toby Theodore; my OH is a big fan of Toby Thomas but to me this makes it feel even more of a basic name. My favourites were Arley Thomas or Milo Thomas but OH isn’t sold on these.

Also, OH does not like Tobias or Tobiah which I have previously suggested so they wouldn’t be an option. I don’t like Tobin which I have seen come up previously.

Any opinions or names suggestions would be great 😌

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Chasingsquirrels · 10/06/2024 08:12

I knew of 4 or 5 when my boys were small, but (other than my 18yo) I don't know any now.

Never worked with a Toby or had any friends called Toby.

ManilowBarry · 10/06/2024 08:02

Toby is a lovely name.

VerbenaGirl · 10/06/2024 07:14

There was a Toby in my DDs class who was a lovely boy - so I bring those positive associations. They are 18 now, and I think it was a more common name then than now. Toby Theodore is lovely.

bellatrixlestrangex · 09/05/2024 19:55

I prefer Tobias

Moriquendi · 09/05/2024 19:29

What types of names do you like? Classic/ nature/ literary/ American etc?
How many syllables is your surname?

Maybe have a more “out there” middle name so it matches your daughters name more?

MountCaramel · 09/05/2024 19:21

Toby and Theodore are both classic names that you can't go wrong with. I also like the following:

Sebastian
Zachary
Benjamin
Raoul
Micah
Liam
Adam
Moses

Original poster
CravingCoffeeCake · 09/05/2024 19:17

Moriquendi · 09/05/2024 19:10

Really like Toby. Not met any young ones, know one in his 20s.

But agree with a PP that Toby Thomas just makes me think of the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends books!

I definitely prefer Toby Theodore between the two, but would equally be open to other middle names if anyone has suggestions ☺️

OP posts:
Moriquendi · 09/05/2024 19:10

Really like Toby. Not met any young ones, know one in his 20s.

But agree with a PP that Toby Thomas just makes me think of the Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends books!

changewashing · 09/05/2024 19:10

FriendlyNeighbourhoodAccountant · 09/05/2024 08:30

When I hear Toby I instantly think Toby Carvery

I don't, I think of a ruddy cheeked 6'4" rugby player with a beautiful accent

Cattenberg · 09/05/2024 19:09

SpeakinginTongues · 09/05/2024 09:31

I think it’s a slightly more current version of Keith.

What?

Toby is a young man with big round eyes. He looks innocent but swears like a trooper.

Keith is 75 and potters about his allotment and the golf course wearing loud knitwear. He has all day to chat, and assumes that everyone else does as well.

SquigglePigs · 09/05/2024 19:06

I think Toby is a nice name. Not unusual but also not overused or too common.

I know two - an 11 year old in Australia and a 9 year old in England.

AngryLikeHades · 09/05/2024 19:03

Love the name!

Cattenberg · 09/05/2024 18:59

I’ve only ever known two Tobys, so it’s not that common around here. One would be in his mid-thirties now and the other is a few years younger. I think if I was going to use it, I’d put a long form of the name on the birth certificate. Toby is very sweet, but Tobias looks more grown up.

Runningonempty01 · 09/05/2024 18:57

From working in a secondary school I observe that girls often like having unusual, different, interesting names and boys often hate it. This is maybe pandering to stereotypes but I'm sure most boys would rather be Jack, Toby, Joshua, Will ( all popular but nice names in my school)than anything exciting

3ormorecharacters · 09/05/2024 18:54

I really like Toby. It was on my list but DH vetoed it, boo. He thought it was chavvy but I have no idea where he got that association from, it's the opposite of that in my mind!

Toby Thomas might be a bit too Tank Engine-y.

Iamblossom · 09/05/2024 18:51

I have a Toby so I'm a bit biased

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 09/05/2024 18:49

I love Toby (so much nicer than Arley)

MerryChristmasToYou · 09/05/2024 11:14

Ptolemy is the usual spelling.

RogueFemale · 09/05/2024 11:13

How about Ptolomy ('p' is silent)? NN Tolly

MerryChristmasToYou · 09/05/2024 10:00

Wrong play, @Mcgooch23 .

WetBandits · 09/05/2024 09:43

I know four Tobys, and none of them are human.

Rubyrosie12 · 09/05/2024 09:40

I really like it but my mum works at Toby Carvery so I couldn't have it. Its a good name.

minipie · 09/05/2024 09:35

I really like the name Toby and only know two - one adult one child.

Milo is fine, there’s a lot of them.

Never heard of Arley, sounds like an invented hybrid of Harley and Arlo. Round here I’d assume it was Harley with the H being dropped.

KeepYourFingersOutOfMySoup · 09/05/2024 09:34

Keith?! 😆

I love Toby.
Or Keith, whatevs!
Toby Keith?

GhostDog · 09/05/2024 09:33

I think Toby is lovely and I’ve never met any - I’ve met a couple of little Arleys and loads of Milos.