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Baby names

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

Original poster

Toby

80 replies

LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 10:23

Thanks for everyone's help on my previous "Isaac vs Bruno" thread! DH and I both love Isaac but not sure what we would call any future siblings. I think a lady with an Isaac also posted it was different to her other siblings' names ... but since I am the sort of person whos shoes always match her handbag ... it would bother me if my children's names did not "match"! I'm not sure I want to be restricted to just biblical names.

SO, our new name is Toby. What does everyone think? What kind of person do you think of when you hear the name? I posted about this name ages ago and know it means something rude in Scottish but since I'm not Scottish and don't live in Scotland this doesn't bother me.

I like classic boys names like Oliver, George, Harry, James, Jack, William etc. Does Toby "go" in this sort of category of names?

My feeling is it is fairly posh (fine by me!) but also maybe a bit "wet" (not so great)?! I don't know if this is because I am thinking of Toby Macguire or Toby Anstis though!

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PlumpRumpSoggyBaps · 09/03/2009 15:34

Sorry Lavender- been out.

I have four older brothers and their names are:-

Paul Colin
Simon Clive (poor thing)
Lloyd Douglas

and then

Toby John.

I would've had Toby but felt it showed too much bias and that my other brothers would be miffed. So mine are

Oliver Ryan
Alexander Benedict.

countesscaloriecounter · 09/03/2009 15:25

Lavender we just have the one child

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 15:18

Anna is nice - very classic.

So strange on the boys' names - you are exactly the same as me and DP on Jacob/Jake! I like Jacob but think Jake sounds a bit like a builder (sorry), DP likes Jake but not Jacob. Also Max - same! Maxwell sounds like coffee and Maximillian is pretentious. I would definitely just have Max, don't think it is too short.

I like your girls' names too.

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Wheelybug · 09/03/2009 15:11

DD is Anna.

Other boy names on (very) short list so far are Jacob (DH likes it shortened to Jake, I prefer the full name so a bit of a question mark) and Max (don't like any of the long forms and not sure if Max is too short).

Girl's names on our (even) short(er) list are Isla (too fashionable at the mo but we love it but don't know any) and Lara.

We're not doing very well on agreeing at the mo.

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 15:08

Toby William also very nice indeed!

What is your DD called? And what other names are on your shortlist?

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Wheelybug · 09/03/2009 15:06

I like the name Toby - its on our shortlist (baby due on friday and still can't agree). Funny people comparing it to William as that would be the middle name we'd use !

I wanted it first time round had dd been a boy but dh couldn't get away from the Antiss connection but he seems to have managed it this time.

Cantsleepwontsleep - i knew a Toby who had a brother Barnaby when I was growing up... wonder if they're the same ?

ProfYaffle · 09/03/2009 15:00

I like it but know a few Tobys. I live in East Anglia and here a Toby is a mischievous spirit, sometimes used as an insult by the older generation. I think that's a rather obscure meaning though.

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 14:56

Thanks Cavs (me too)! (Glad you're not a Georgia-Jade or similar!!)

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Cavs · 09/03/2009 14:54

I'm Caroline in RL! Never really thought about if me and my brother's names go together or not, and now I am, I'm not sure they do!
Sorry, not very helpful but I think a Toby and a Charlotte would be lovely together...

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 14:54

Thanks .. VERY glad to know there are no 70s icons I have forgotten about!

I know a Toby born in the 1970s too but was hoping it was a classic like James which was good then and now.

I hope it's a girl, boys names are such hard work! Our no. 1 for a boy is actually Oliver but we know about 10 Olivers already (friends and family). Would like him not to be one of 10 Olivers in his class.

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SouthernMeerkat · 09/03/2009 14:50

I guess 70s because I was at prep school with a couple but don't know any little ones!

I can't think of a 70s 'icon' or well known personality called Toby though, so perhaps it's just me being ridiculous!

Charlotte Emily is gorgeous for a girl.

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 14:48

Ooh Toby James also very nice. Cavs will you say what your real name is? Sorry I keep asking everyone but I want to get an idea of what sort of name it is/what names it goes with.

If we have a girl it will probably be Charlotte Emily.

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Cavs · 09/03/2009 14:44

I love it - but am maybe biased as it's my brother's name. He's not Tobias, just Toby and his middle name is James..

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 14:38

Thanks - do you have other children countes?

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countesscaloriecounter · 09/03/2009 14:34

I love the name Toby, but I'm biased as my ds is called it.

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 14:31

I know ... just find it hard to think objectively about the name as I used to know someone called Toby. He wasn't at all wimpy by the way!

Now - 1970s - why/how pray tell? Like Simon/Andrew?!

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SouthernMeerkat · 09/03/2009 14:24

Like a wet 1970s Tim?! .
No, I don't consider it to be a particularly wimp-like name - DH vetoed Julian on that score - but I do think it's a bit 70s, yes.

But, as I always say to people who ask about their name choices, if you really like it, who cares what anyone else thinks?! (Unless you're about to call a child Teapot or something ridiculous obviously.....)

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 14:20

LOL!

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Fimbo · 09/03/2009 14:15

My ds's middle name is Duncan.....

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 14:13

Thanks Fimbo. I like it but the wimpy/Tim thing is a big concern!

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Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 14:12

Loving Rufus.

Was wondering when the dog thing might come up! That doesn't both me so much.

And don't mind posh. I guess it is difficult to say whether it is posh posh or what I consider classic though, as all mumsnetters will be from different walks of life. I've grown up with boys like Thomas, George, James, Hugo, Matthew etc and I also quite like (although don't love) names like Henry, which seems to be coming back into fashion. So long as it's not Giles posh I don't mind?!

Do you think it sounds wet like Tim or 1970s?!

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Fimbo · 09/03/2009 14:10

I am Scottish (so realise my opinion is not counting for much , although I do live in Engerland), I feel Toby is a very English name and I am afraid my dh does think it is a wimp's name and agree with the Tim comments. [sorry to anyone with a Toby]

midnightexpress · 09/03/2009 13:59

Personally I don't like it. Sounds v posh and also a bit like a labrador.

SouthernMeerkat · 09/03/2009 13:55

I guess on my 'old-fashioned-o-meter' it woudl be on the side of William rather than Stanley, yes.

We certainly didn't choose names to fit in with our area - we've moved every time we've had a baby anyway - just ones that we loved and worked together, although we did try to choose ones that were outside the top 100. Unfortunately, 2 of the 3 are now within the top 75 (Theodore and Matilda/k/a Theo and Tilly) and there is another Rufus in my a/n group!!

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 13:47

I like old-fashioned ... so long as it is old-fashioned as in William and not old-fashioned as in Stanley?!

I think you can get away with smart names anywhere and you shouldn't try to "fit in" with other children/trends in your area. Who knows if/when you might move house, or what your child might turn out to do (PM anyone?)

Having said that Monty along with a double-barrelled surname kind of takes it out of the realms of smart and into the realms of daddy-bought-me-a-private-jet-for-my-18th!!

I think the names you have mentioned at the end of your post are all very nice, and smart (apart from Elouise which is probably less so). Are you saying Toby/Tobias falls into these realms?

Raven - hmmmmm!

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