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Baby names

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

Toby

46 replies

Chouxbuncity · 28/10/2020 14:30

Like the name Toby but does is it too strongly associated with the carvery chain? Is this a regional problem? Halloween Grin thank you

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Ladderofyears · 28/10/2020 14:45

I would say definitely not.
My ds has several friends called Toby. One of them lives on the same road as a Toby carvery! Another one of them travels with him for a frequent sports event and they go to the Toby carvery every time - I've never heard anyone even comment on the fact that his name is the same.
I love the name but all the ones I know are in their teens.

elfran · 28/10/2020 14:47

Not heard of chain so may be a regional issue!

I love Toby, but my husband just associates it with Toby Young so it was a non-starter. 🙄

You'll inevitably get some comments about putting Tobias on the birth certificate to have a "full name", but to me they're totally different and Toby is definitely a name in its own right. And I'm normally team full name! I think it works well on a kid or grown man, and it doesn't seem tied to a "type" which is good.

FuzzyPenguin · 28/10/2020 14:50

I have a Toby, no trouble with the food chain. One person made a comment about his ears and Toby jug. But I dealt with that.

persheptions · 28/10/2020 14:50

I prefer Tobin.

MonkeyPuddle · 28/10/2020 14:53

The only Tobys I know have been dogs.

pincertoe · 28/10/2020 14:55

I have one and still love his name. Not overly common here but common enough you can get things with his name. I've never really associated him with Toby Carvery, we didn't have one in our town though when he was born.

SMurphy91 · 28/10/2020 15:36

I have a cousin Toby and I love a good Toby Carvery but I've literally never connected the two until now Grin

I don't think it would be the first thing to spring to mind for most people

Ickabog · 28/10/2020 15:39

@SMurphy91

I have a cousin Toby and I love a good Toby Carvery but I've literally never connected the two until now Grin

I don't think it would be the first thing to spring to mind for most people

Same here, the connection has never crossed my mind. I really don't think it would for most people.
emmathedilemma · 28/10/2020 15:39

The link had never crossed my mind either!

Smellybluecheese · 28/10/2020 15:53

There are three in my DDs year 1 class (also 1 in our NCT group and I have two friends with an older Toby) and it has never once crossed my mind!

Tinkletwat · 28/10/2020 15:55

Makes me think of the cute wee boy from Labyrinth. Wouldn't go for Tobin due to Peter Tobin.

SpookyNoise · 28/10/2020 15:56

I think of it as a dog’s name.

Juancornetto · 28/10/2020 15:58

It's lovely Smile I don't think of the carvery when I hear it

Chouxbuncity · 28/10/2020 16:43

Maybe it’s just because my family are big carvery fans- they go weekly Shock

Not too bothered about the dog association as I am quite fond of dogs Grin less fond of meat and gravy associations.

Other option is James but I know it will be turned into Jimmy...

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Todayissunny · 28/10/2020 16:51

My DS is Toby. Not in the UK so I've never heard of the carvery. people do try to insist on calling him Tobias which is more common here.
I love it. It is the only name I chose for one of my 3 DCs before the birth. He is a twin and I decided quite quickly that he was the Toby. He is 13.

eddiemairswife · 28/10/2020 16:55

Unfortunately, I associate it with Toby Young as well.

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 28/10/2020 17:50

Probably more of an issue in the Midlands than anywhere else!

I love Toby but it had already been used for DH’s much adored childhood dog.

Chouxbuncity · 28/10/2020 18:53

@FuzzyPenguin

I hadn’t even thought of toby jugs. Jugs, sunday roast and dogs. Maybe too many associations and I’ll have to rethink. I really like the name!

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Firebird83 · 28/10/2020 19:36

James is much nicer than Toby

Regularsizedrudy · 28/10/2020 19:51

Makes me think the Kunta Kinte “your name is Toby” thing

MikeUniformMike · 29/10/2020 12:48

It's fine.

LittleTiger007 · 29/10/2020 16:10

I adore the name Toby! It’s not too popular, very cute and also strong and handsome as the boy gets older. It doesn’t make me think of the chain or the mug.

Ruthietuthie · 29/10/2020 16:17

Jug?
That's my first thought.
But I actually quite like it as a name. Tobias for full, Toby for short?

Whatsyourflava · 29/10/2020 16:25

James and Toby are both lovely
Wouldn't have made the food or jug connection

BiBabbles · 29/10/2020 17:12

More associate it with Labyrinth myself, especially a baby Toby.

I wouldn't associate it with food or jugs or dogs.