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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Rory, Corey, Toby? Any bad reputations?

35 replies

Liland · 12/12/2018 19:32

I've been perusing these boards for a while in search of our due next month first baby boy's name, and it's become apparent that some names have a certain reputation I wasn't aware of - I have no Mum friends or involvement with kids yet, so this is new ground for me, and I don't want to pick a name people will make judegments about before meeting my child, at school and such.

Are there any prevailing opinions on Rory, Toby or Corey? Me and DP like all 3, but have been struggling to agree on any others! All work well with his last name, and we'll work on a middle name later on. We're based in the UK if that matters!

Any opinions would be very gratefully received!

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AgathaRaisinsCat · 12/12/2018 19:44

According to my Dad (may not be reliable) Corey is the Romany word for penis. He is Romany and has always found it hilarious when he hears of a child called that.

Apologies to anyone with a child Calle Corey - don't blame me.

ernjas · 12/12/2018 19:51

Rory is my personal preference although wouldn't use it myself as I think it's overused.

Corey is okay.

Really dislike Toby. I like Tobias but only in full which it wouldn't stay.

Original poster
Liland · 12/12/2018 19:51

Oh that's a deal breaker then, Google agrees with you! Thanks!

OP posts:
Sweepington · 12/12/2018 19:52

In my experience (secondary school teacher/ college lecturer)
Tobys tend to be popular and clever as do Rorys. I’ve never met a corey in real Life.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 12/12/2018 19:53

Toby and Rory are great.

Corey....less so.

Original poster
Liland · 12/12/2018 19:55

Is Rory that popular? It only seems to come in 200-300 in recent year lists I can find.

OP posts:
MamaDane · 12/12/2018 19:57

My DP says that Rory is a ginger name. Every time she's met a (male) ginger, he's been named Rory Grin

I like the name.
The other two not so much.

KathyBates · 12/12/2018 20:00

Rory and Toby were both on my list, love them both :0)

GotThatWhatWhat · 12/12/2018 20:07

I know an awful Toby - proper nice guy abuser, horrid - other than that it reminds me of the CF buffoonish Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night - but neither of those reasons should influence you!

Corey feels very 1980s California.

Rory is lovely name.

olympicsrock · 12/12/2018 20:17

Toby and Rory are both great names

breakingdownbitbybit · 12/12/2018 20:18

I had Corey on our boys names list.
Everyone hated it!

EloisaJane · 12/12/2018 20:21

I have a Rory. I love his name (obvs). It has definitely increased in popularity but isn't ridiculously popular.

crumble82 · 12/12/2018 20:25

I like Rory and Toby, they’re both names that fit in anywhere.

Corey in my mind sounds like a troublemaker, however I know that’s a ridiculous thing to say as the only Corey I know is a lovely, polite little boy! Still not that keen on the name though.

tammytoby · 12/12/2018 20:29

Rory is very difficult to pronounce for those who struggle with their Rs.

Toby is nice as a nickname for Tobias only.

Mousetrap3 · 12/12/2018 20:35

I like Toby, DH is ginger and he’s not called Rory Hmm

elibee · 12/12/2018 20:39

I only know the one Corey and if it does mean dick it suits him perfectly.

I like Rory best but I much prefer the Ruaridh spelling.

Original poster
Liland · 12/12/2018 20:40

Awesome, thanks for all the input!

OP posts:
NameChange30 · 12/12/2018 20:44

I like Toby, it was on my list for DS.
Also like Rory although I think it can be hard for some people to pronounce.
Dislike Corey.

If you and your partner have different surnames, please consider giving your child your own surname (on its own or together with your partner's surname). If using both surnames, you could hyphenate or just have two surnames without a hyphen (like the Spanish) which makes it easier to drop one surname for everyday use if you want.

Katurah · 12/12/2018 20:54

I like Rory but prefer the Ruari spelling - I've taught a few over the years and always lovey boys. I prefer Tobias to Toby. Not a fan of Corey, first in to Jayden, Kayden territory for me. Or the sick twin in Flowers in the Attic🤷🏻‍♀️

MadeForThis · 12/12/2018 20:54

The Rory I know is ginger.

mogtheexcellent · 12/12/2018 20:57

Rory in dr who wasn't ginger.

I like it and was one of my top5 boys names but we had a girl.

Pinkyponkcustard · 12/12/2018 20:57

Rory actually means red king which might be where the ginger thing comes from (and it’s a Gaelic name)

Gorgeous name though

Cauliflowersqueeze · 12/12/2018 20:58

I have a friend called Rob who can’t pronounce his r sound and so has to introduce himself as Wob. I’d be put off Rory for that reason. War-we

foxtiger · 12/12/2018 22:39

My DP says that Rory is a ginger name.

The Rory I know best is ginger, so I can relate to that - and it does mean "red" so it's quite an appropriate name for a ginger person.

I like both Rory and Toby, not quite sure about Corey - it's making me think of apple cores, but I suppose that's not the worst association.

Sophronia · 12/12/2018 23:00

I don’t like any of them. Toby and Rory are a bit wet, and Corey is very 80s. How about Cary?