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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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SouthernMeerkat · 09/03/2009 13:39

I think it sounds a bit old-fashioned to be honest. I like Tobias though and would use that in full.

Personally, I think you can get away with smart names without educating at public school if the milieu that your children mix in is of that ilk anyway. Or that's what I like to think as having number 3 DC put private education outside our reach which meant that even with privately educated parents, a double barrelled surname and living in a middle class area, DH vetoed Monty, but I'm going to work on him for number 4 . My DCs are all at (state) school/nursery with Sebastians, Oscars, Hectors, Hugos, Isabellas, Arabellas, Elouises etc, although there are a couple of exceptions - Bradley and Raven to name a couple!

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 13:39

All the positive posts are winning me around - thanks!

Although I am still concerned about the Toby vs Tim comparison and the 1970s thing??!

Any views?

Sorry to go on ... !

OP posts:
PeppermintPatty · 09/03/2009 13:36

I like Toby too! Tis my nephew's name (short for Tobias but no-one calls him this).

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 13:08

Oh no - does Toby sound like Tim???

Wordgirl can I ask what the names of your other children are?

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wordgirl · 09/03/2009 13:01

Ooh my DS2 is Toby Alexander too!,

100yearsofsolitude · 09/03/2009 12:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nancy66 · 09/03/2009 12:54

Toby (to me) is one of those names which always sounds a bit weak and wussy - like Tim.

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 12:42

Toby Alexander is very nice indeed - goes well.

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MoshiMoshi · 09/03/2009 12:38

My nephew is Toby Alexander which is a nice balance of fairly traditional but not too usual. BTW my Toby is not anything other than Toby, so no Tobias on his birth certificate!

mrswoolf · 09/03/2009 12:26

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 11:50

Thanks! - can I be nosy and ask what the other names of your siblings are? Also what is his middle name?

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PlumpRumpSoggyBaps · 09/03/2009 11:48

Toby is a fab name. It's my youngest brother's name and he is kind, strong, amiable, intelligent and musical.

Not that I'm biased or anything...

He was never Tobias just Toby.

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 11:42

Puppymonkey - oh no - why 1970s - like Simon and Philip?!

Mrswoolf - you mean that you don't think Toby is a "proper" name, only a nick-name?

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mrswoolf · 09/03/2009 11:40

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PuppyMonkey · 09/03/2009 11:37

it's a bit 1970s imho

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 11:35

Thanks. Not too "wet" then? And quite a strong, traditional name?

Middle name poll next!

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bluebump · 09/03/2009 11:35

I have a cousin called Toby (well he is a Tobias), I think it's a lovely name.

GorgonsGin · 09/03/2009 11:30

Duncan I was a Scottish King who was around in the 11th century, so def not modern!

Toby is a great name.

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 11:16

Oh really? Sorry - shows how much Shakespeare I read!

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CantSleepWontSleep · 09/03/2009 10:57

lol at the idea of Duncan being modern - Shakespeare wrote about one!

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 10:52

PS suggestions for middle names?
PPS I love mumsnet!

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Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 10:50

Weblette, I am loving your taste in names!

Can'tsleepwon'tsleep - like the name Barny (undecided about Barnaby), but none of the other names on your list - sorry! . I don't dislike them, just don't love them I guess (Dominic is my favourite out of all of them), they are all fairly modern. What does everyone else think - is Toby traditional (George etc) or modern (Elliot etc)?

Moshimoshi, thanks, the fact you think it has no connotations but is a good strong name is exactly what I wanted to hear!

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bobsyouruncle · 09/03/2009 10:48

I really like it

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 09/03/2009 10:46

Love it!

My ds1 would have been a Toby if a really close friend ahdn't named their ds1 Toby just a few weeks before he was born.

Lots of names go well with it too.

Original poster
LavenderStar · 09/03/2009 10:44

Thanks, I don't like all the shortening of names that seems to be common nowadays. Eg I love Archie but I would have to call my son Archibald (which I'm not too keen on).

But with Toby, I think the shortened "Toby" (rather than "Tobias") is now known as a "proper" name in itself? Like Harry (which is actually short for Harold or Henry). I am not sure about Tobias ...

I think Toby is fairly posh. I guess in the realms of William rather than Sebastian though? I like fairly posh but not too posh (like Giles!)

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