Thoughts on the name Tobias?

[Holly1987]

So the hubby and I haven't yet had a serious discussion on baby names, as it is still early days. But we were sat around the table with the in-laws and they asked the question... I like the names George Alexander and Oliver Michael, as they are cutesy names as boys and strong names as men.

My other half said Tobias, which I thought was a joke - But he was serious and now that is his favourite name, because it isn't common and can be shortened to Toby.

Love it. Toby for when they are small and can revert to more 'grown up' version as an adult if they wish.

I didn't use to like but it's grown on me and I love it now.

I like tobias but not as keen on Toby I like George from your list or Alexander as a first name

A friend named her DS it and I didn't like it at the time - grown on me now and I love it though he's mainly called Toby. People on here state that Toby is v v popular and overused nowadays but I've never met another one.

Great name , like Toby too .

I love Tobias, only know one and it's never shortened to Toby.

When I first heard it, I hated it. I'm not sure why, it just came across as a harsh sounding name... And to me, Toby sounds American (not that there's anything wrong with that). But now i've gone from hating it, to thinking about it lol

I think Toby as a nn is mainly driven by the parents tbh - especially in the early years. The Tobias I know is called Toby because that's what his parents call him. If they were to call him Tobias I'd do the same.

Hate the name Toby as it brings up the book Roots to me.

It sounds a bit austere. Like a Dickens baddie.

Tobias nn Toby is a perfect name.

I love it. First time I ever came across a Toby was over 20 years ago at uni. He was lovely.

I've only met one since and he's a grown man. Again, lovely.

I don't know of any children called Toby or Tobias.

It really is popular round here-South East. I kid you not when I say that at toddler group t'other day there were 5 little Tobys(between 4 and about6 months)! And I meet more and more every day!
It's one of those names that hasn't been popular in the past but has recently been "rediscovered" and is dramatically on the up!
It's a nice name, but I really predict it will be in the top ten/twenty fairly soon, and , if that bothers you, I would avoid it.

And a lot of the Tobys I met are Tobiases-think it's almost inevitable he will be Toby.
Names IMO with a similar feel but not as crazily popular (at least down South) are:

Bobby (Robert) LOVE this!
Robin
Joel
Torin
Joseph (quite popular but think it's on the way down the name charts rather than shooting up!)

Hope you don't mind my saying the above, but I know how annoying it is when you pick an "unusual" name only for it to become popular (I did that with my first son) so thought I'd warn you!

Good luck whatever you decide!

Agree with above OP- Toby is common now, and rather "trendy" at the moment whereas George and Oliver are also popular but more classic, timeless names.

If you like "T' names what about Tim/Timothy? That's a nice name you never hear among young children these days.

Love the name George-I would go with that. Simple and goes with any surname I imagine.
Toby/Tobias reminds me of a red-faced, paunchy Tory MP! And yes there do seem to be a fair few around.

DH is an adult instructor with the Army Cadets and one of his current cadets is called Tobias Fudge. I think that's the Best Name Ever...brings to mind a Victorian philanthropist or someone from a Terry Pratchett book.

Other than that one, I know three Tobiases of various ages (one is 5, one is about 40 and one would be 70 now). They're all pretty cool blokes.

It's a great name! Cute got a kid, strong for a man. I know 2 kids with this name, and they're pretty cool.

I love it.

I really like it.

I like tobias but dilike Toby

I like Toby but not Tobias. But I'm not generally a fan of 'posh' sounding names.

Love it! Would have been on our list if PILs dog wasn't called Toby.

Not keen I'm afraid. I think of Tobias as cat's name after the Tim and Tobias reading books we had at school.

Not keen I'm afraid as where I'm from in Scotland Toby is a slang word for penis!
Seems popular down south though.

Very popular around here. Much prefer just Toby to Tobias.