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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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MoshiMoshi · 09/03/2009 10:41

My nephew is Toby and we weren't sure at first but have to come to regard it as a good strong name without any real connotations to it! It isn't "out there" in the slightest and is also not too common so that your son will be in a class with lots of other Toby's (unlike, eg, Max, Jack etc).

CantSleepWontSleep · 09/03/2009 10:40

Toby is lovely. We know one (adult) with a brother Barnaby. Things like Lawrence, Elliot, Duncan and Dominic go well too IMO, better than your George, Harry list.

weblette · 09/03/2009 10:35

I have a one year old Toby along with a Laura, Ben and James. We don't particularly do posh and I'm Scottish and that aspect didn't bother me either! Only know one other where we live which is one of the reasons we picked it, not too unusual, not too run of the mill.

MsBeauregarde · 09/03/2009 10:31

I really like it. I would avoid some names on grounds of being too posh. Sebastian has always struck me as unbearably posh.

Toby is too short to be in Sebastian's league imo.

I'm sure I've offended the mothers of Sebastians, which isn't my intention. I just mean to say, I get where you're coming from, worrying about a name being too pretentious. I don't think Toby is though.

Barnaby or Mungo and I would agree with you. Do you have the school fees!

Toby is fine! I really like it. It's been around but not in huge numbers for a long time now.

IwishIwereonthebeach · 09/03/2009 10:27

I automatically thought of Toby Anstis too!! How about Tobias and shortening it to Toby, so he has the option of a more formal name when a professional life beckons?

I think its a fine name.