Toby and Theo are crazily popular!

[haleandhearty]

Every other baby/toddler I meet has one of the above names!
Why have they suddenly become so popular? Where did they come from?
Is there a celeb/Eastenders connection I'm missing?

Just out of interest really!

Have they? Where I live there seems to be a law passed that states all make babies must be called Oscar with the caveat that if you don't fancy Oscar you may choose George instead.

I love Toby and Theo.

Oscar here too! Don't know any Toby's

Really? They were my boy's names for dd1 fifteen years ago... Weird.

Yes. Toby is very popular where I live.

I have a Theo's who's 6.i confess. I started the trend

Theo*

I think they must have turned into hardy perennials. There are boys of each name in my DSes (teens) classes.

There are an abundance of Oscars and Olivers where I live. I know one Tobias (Toby) and one Theo, but they're both 20!

Don't know about celebs.

But Toby's been really popular for at least a couple of decades. I have noticed it getting more so, it sort of plateaued recently in stat terms.

Theo is what I'd call more the fashion. No idea why. Though it's an appealing name I suppose Theodore I like too and Theodora

There are two Theos in my son's preschool class - one of them is mine!

My DH picked it. It'll likely continue to grow in popularity for a while but think it will eventually die down - doubt it will become a 'classic' like Harry or Jack.. But who knows!?

Don't know any Tobys though.

My Theo's 7 now, he's the only one in the school that I'm aware of. The plan was to call him Teddy as a nick name, never did though.

Theo is a popular footballer I think?

I don't know any Theos or Tobys. Every single baby boy of my acquaintance is called Ethan!

My Theo is 10 and only Theo I knew back then was 50+. Was a toss up between that and Thomas, and there's only him and one other in his 350+ school. Wanted to call his sister Dorothy until realised was in effect the same name

My Toby's the only one at his infant school, there's one at juniors.
I know a couple of Theos but certainly not to the level I'd say made them fashionable.

I like Theo (Theodore) for DS, I first heard it as the main character in a book I read last year. MN is putting me off though as so many people say it's over used. I thought it was unusual before looking on here but DS will be our first and we don't know that many young children.

I beg to differ. Where I'm from, there's an abundance of Harrys Alfies Charlies Oscars Olivers.
I've only met one Theo. He was a lovely little boy and never met a Toby. Both beautiful and as far as I'm concerned under used names.
If I hear another baby boy named one of the ones I've quoted above I swear I'll scream. FGS they're not the only boys names on the planet. Broaden your horizons. See further!

Think I might live in the same place as you liveinalighthouse! Either that or there are lots of unimaginative people in the country!

I don't know any Theos, and the only Toby I know is 22. Where I live it's Oscar and Oliver, and Finn seems to be quite popular too.

I have a theo who is 2, he is the only one I've come across in our area.

Oh bloody hell! I have an Ethan, an Oscar, and being induced tomorrow and have Toby as a serious contender for top of the list. strikes off list and moves down to Jonah

Fantastic news. Good luck, Detective

My Theo is 7, we know one 6 year old but that's it, throughout nursery and the 2 schools he's been at.

Only know one Tobey, he's 11.

Lots of Theos here, but not met a little Toby yet. Only famous Theos I can think of are Walcott and the one off the chipmunks.
There's loads of Maxs where I live. Maximilian, Maximus etc but all end up being called Max

I don't know any Theo's or Toby's but I do love the name Toby. Round my way all the boys seem to be called Oliver (I know 3 born this year!) And Archie