Warning: Toby becoming very popular!

[verelab]

This is the name I seem to have heard more of than any other name recently - toddler groups/playground etc Think it'll go the way of Oscar.

I'm actually not keen on it myself (think it's bit wet-sounding) but have seen it suggested several times on MN threads recently. So thought I was duty-bound to pass on that it is showing every sign of being a super- popular name in a few years's time. I would avoid it if you want something unusual!

I don't know about that. The ONLY one I know is 43

I know a few teenage Tobys

Not particularly popular here in Scotland, where it's slang for penis...

I have a 10 month old and I don't know any Toby's in any baby groups at all. There are far more popular boys names out there. Anyway who cares if it's popular! It probably means most people like it! I think I might have it if this little bean turns out to be a boy like I mentioned in my thread you commented on.

I have a 41 year old Toby Oliver ....and Oliver was really unusual in those days....so what goes around comes around and all that. What does it matter so long as you like the name, though I do get that some names are just "going through the roof" - yes Oscar and Noah and Lily and Olivia etc etc.

Totally agree NanaNina. It's the only name me and DH agree on and we like it. True that names come and go

I have an 11 yr old one - it's been around no 50 in the baby charts since then. So it's never been unpopular

Lots of Toby's at the younger end of our school.

My Grampa's dog is called Toby.

I have never met another.

Carbolic are you thinking of "Boaby" rather than Toby, I'm Glaswegian and have never heard of Toby being used as slang for penis.

Yes, completely agree! It seems to be the name of choice for babies in our area - Thames Valley. Definitely one that's climbing fast. Not sure what kick-started the trend but there are loads of young Tobys around here.

It's still a dog's name to me!

Thanks for the warning anyway - I really want to avoid trending names with my DS/DD no. 2!

I haven't ever heard Toby being used for a penis before, although I have heard it being called a dogs name.

I kind of fell in love witch the name after watching Labrynth, the only little Toby I know is mine.

In the US it's used as a girl's name. Dd has a 17 year old female friend called Toby.

I just don't see what's so wrong about popular names. It means they are nice names. Also these names have been around for years and years and will be for many years to come. I personally love classic names and most people obviously do too. So if someone wants to call there baby Toby then for goodness sake let's respect that and be kind.

*thier

Thanks for the alert, will put changing my 4 year olds wet sounding name on the to do list.

We are in Scotland, I think you mean Boaby

Nana nina I like your style, I have one of each of your sons name!

I have a Toby and since I had mine 8 years ago it's become very popular around here. I know at least 5. We thought we'd picked a slightly more unusual name!

Never met or taught one probably depends on the area.

Yes, round here - SE - if a boy baby's not Oscar, he's Toby!

Toby is slang penis in some parts of Scotland - there was another thread about it. Deffo not a name to choose if you live in Dundee.

Only Toby I know is about 5 yrs old.

I'm also not seeing the problem with picking a popular name, particularly when it's a well established name that's been around for centuries. Whether you love it is more important than how popular it is.

Yes, this name is everywhere at the moment. Along with Reuben! Maybe this is just "Darn Sarf?" How did these trends start? So interesting!

The one that seems everywhere to me is Ella. When I was pregnant with DD (6) I thought it sounded really unusual and kind of "out there". I was seriously considering it as her name. But now it is EVERYWHERE!

And nearly all the baby boys I come across are Oliver or Oscar.

I know a few little Tobys. It's a nice name.

Felix is another I hear all the time!

There are 3 in one of the classes I teach..