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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Opinions on this boy's name

41 replies

Hippo222 · 31/05/2021 06:08

I don't live in the UK or Us and my husband is not British either (I am, with a very Irish surname)

We've always had backup girls names but never boy's names.

Watching the Derek Chauvin trial I was blown away by Dr Martin Tobin and his testimony. Not only has he dedicated his life to saving others, he volunteered and didn't accept payment to attend trial - he just wanted to ensure justice was served. I just found the guy really inspiring and said to my dh if we have a boy let's name him Tobin.

So now we know it's a boy, and getting quite settled on the name.

I hadn't heard of the serial killer until I searched on mn to see if anyone had asked about the name. I wanted to show respect to someone who did something so great - not something so evil.

I am also am slightly concerned that although I've seen Tobin used as a first name, combining one Irish surname with another Irish surname might be a bit much. Although my Irish name comes from generations back and I have never stepped foot in Ireland.

The other option is Martin but it doesn't have the same significance, plus very close friends of ours have a son called Martin. I would nickname Marty but then you've got Marty Mcfly.

I've name changed because I've already told my mum the name and she told me she would Google to see who else was called Tobin (maybe she knows the serial killer connection and is trying to be gentle) but don't want her to identify me on here as my usual self.

I already feel it fits and my dh has already changed the baby's nickname from Blobby to Tobby when talking to bump. Would you just go for the name you love, even though it's a killer name? I've seen babies named Huntley and nobody cares about Ian Huntley. There are also babies called Freddy and Rose but nobody mentions the Wests.

OP posts:

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Mollymalone123 · 31/05/2021 06:14

I like it and I normally am not at all keen on ‘unusual’ names and I purposefully didn’t google Tobin in order to give you a totally honest reply when thinking about the name.I have never heard of any connection to anything bad/silly etc with it.Go for it!

Namechangedlady · 31/05/2021 06:21

My son shares a first name with a prolific serial killer, honestly it doesn't bother me. Any name you chose could eventually be linked to something distasteful. My friend is called Alexa, not distasteful but bloody irritating.

WhySoSensitive · 31/05/2021 06:24

Any name can have a negative connection somewhere. It’s how much it would bother you.
If you like it, use it.

cariadlet · 31/05/2021 06:29

I haven't googled it either so no idea what the connection is.

I haven't heard of Tobin so if I heard it in isolation, I'd probably assume it was a made up yoonique name and wouldn't be keen on it.

But if I heard it with an Irish surname then I'd assume that it was a traditional Irish name which I was unfamiliar with and that would completely change my perception of it. In fact, the more I think about it the more I like it.

tiredteacher100 · 31/05/2021 06:33

If you are really wavering how about Torin? I used to work with a Torin and always loved it, I think it's Irish too

DonkeysNotDisney · 31/05/2021 06:34

I wouldn't have thought about the link either. I would assume it was an Irish version of Tobias, I like it.

Wombatstew · 31/05/2021 06:52

I like the name Tobin and prefer it over the name Martin. I am not in the UK so had to google the name to find the connection so I am not sure how well known this man might be but you hadn’t heard of him and neither had the few other posters on this thread.

Lavender201 · 31/05/2021 06:57

I think Tobin sounds like a lovey name. Doesn’t sound made up at all.

I’ve never heard of the serial killer. If it helps, it looks like the serial killer is Scottish not Irish.

It also looks like there’s a character from
the Walking Dead called Tobin, so some people might think of that instead.

I think with Toby/Tobias being popular, Tobin might increase in popularity too. And as the years go on, the killer will drop from the top of the google rankings. An article from 2021 says he’s about to die from cancer. Sorry, I know that’s really grim. But by the time your lad is in secondary this guy might not be the top search result anymore if there’s nothing keeping him in the news anymore.

MyOtherProfile · 31/05/2021 06:58

Tobin is really nice. Never heard of the serial killer so no negative connotations for me.

Lavender201 · 31/05/2021 06:59

Should have said, I’ve lived in the UK my whole life and follow the news, and never heard of him.

Also there are lots of children called Reggie and Ronnie about at the moment... Tobin certainly isn’t recognisable like that.

Pemberleys · 31/05/2021 07:02

My first thought was the serial killer, but I lived in Glasgow at the time and it was all over the news.

Original poster

Hippo222 · 31/05/2021 07:04

Thank you lovely mnetters this morning.

The thread I found from 2011 was really brutal about the name but I guess that's how trends and ideas change in 10 years.

The name really feels like the one that fits and until I came on here (to see if anyone had asked about it before) I was happy with it. Then I think this is the name!

OP posts:

KidneyBeans · 31/05/2021 07:05

Immediately thought of Peter Tobin
Awful connection. I wouldn't

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Tobin

KidneyBeans · 31/05/2021 07:07

Just to add I have no connection to Glasgow and wasn't around at that time, but am aware as I listen to a lot of true crime which is incredibly popular at the moment

Callingallskeletons · 31/05/2021 07:08

I’m another who has never heard of any serial killer connection OP, I think it’s a lovely name - I’d go for it ♥️
Massive Congratulations too OP xxx

DoTheNextRightThing · 31/05/2021 07:10

I'm Scottish and a true crime fanatic and even I didn’t think of Peter Tobin when you said the name. I really don’t think anyone will make the connection.

whatswithtodaytoday · 31/05/2021 07:14

I've never heard of the serial killer, and I used to know a Tobin so am aware it's a real name. I like it, it's a lovely name. And if you were really worried you could just use Toby instead, they're so similar (I've only heard it pronounced Toe-bin, not Tobbin... not sure if that's your accent though if your H is calling your bump Tobby?)

Pinkychilla · 31/05/2021 07:16

I like Tobin and don't think it sounds made up at all think it's a really nice name 😊 also have not heard of a serial killer called that and I think you could go on forever overthinking names like that and kids his own age won't know anything about it

Amdone123 · 31/05/2021 07:17

I watch a lot of true crime and didn't know who you meant. I was thinking Tobin was the first name (of the serial killer), then I remembered Peter Tobin. It's not the same if it's a surname. In fact, it doesn't matter if it's the first name. Lots of Teds for example. I don't think of Ted Bundy when I hear a Ted ( I usually wonder if it's short for Edward !) .
I like it, and I don't normally like surnames as first names ( Tyler, Taylor, Mason, etc).

fat13 · 31/05/2021 07:20

I thought Peter Tobin as well.

Problem is, some names do become notorious because they are the only one - so Fred and Rose no but you wouldn’t call siblings that! Same with Ronnie and reggie.

Myra, Adolf, have both massively fallen out of favour.

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 31/05/2021 07:22

I immediately thought of the serial killer but I watch far too many crime documentaries. It’s probably more a of a reflection of me than of the name.

HuntingoftheSnark · 31/05/2021 07:22

I wouldn't have made any negative associations at all. It's a good, strong name and Toby is a nice nickname if you want one. I would definitely use it if you really like it.

Twizbe · 31/05/2021 07:28

My brother has a cat called Torbin. It's an Icelandic name which means thunder bear.

Could that be an alternative?

I didn't know about the serial killer Tobin so that wouldn't bother me.

Original poster

Hippo222 · 31/05/2021 08:29

@whatswithtodaytoday we will pronounce it toe-bin. It's just because when we had the first scan he looked like just a blob so we nicknamed him blobby and now it's just easier to transition the nickname blobby to tobby. Once he's born we will use the full name but while I've got the bump it just seems more fun to refer to "the Tob" or Tobby.

OP posts:

Babynamechange1bn · 31/05/2021 08:34

I’d never heard of it before but think it’s a lovely name.

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