Bobby - is it too common?

[LoubyLou92]

Thoughts on the name Bobby for a boy? I like both spellings Bobby and Bobbie. Is it really common? I prefer less common names for girls but struggling to find a less common boy name.

Also - I do not like Robert so the name would be Bobby.

I know a couple. Would definitely spell it Bobby though.

I do not know a single baby or child called Bobby. I don't think it is common.

Bobby is better than Bobbie.

I love the name Bobby! It is my dogs name though. It’s a sweet name. Bob is cute too and works for an adult.

Bobby is no longer common, I don't know any. I would avoid the Bobbie spelling, which seems more feminine (ie short for Roberta).

In all honesty, I understand Bobby as an unfortunate nickname, like Dick is short for Richard, but cannot fathom deliberately giving it to my child as a name. It seems like such a non name that I can't understand giving it to a human being as their permanent, life long name. There are so many lovely strong, meaningful, interesting and /or classic boys names. It sounds like the parents got fed up deciding on a name, went to 'B' in the name book and picked the first one their finger landed on. It reminds me of that competition to name a boat and the winner was 'Boaty Mc Boatface'. Just no.

Everyone has different tastes and opinions - I personally really don’t like names like Michael, Robert, Oliver, John etc because I think they sound dated, but a lot of people love these names and think they’re “classic”.

I don’t see how Bobby is similar to Dick personally, but that’s just my opinion :)

I don't think it is common in the over used meaning. It is quite old fashioned if anything I would think.
It does seem like a very nn name to have as your formal first name but not unpleasant.

I agree that Bobbie is the female version of the name.

I know 2, one boy and one girl. However, neither are actually called Bobby, it's just a nickname. I can't imagine calling a person Bobby as a stand alone name, it feels very childish.

I know one, a boy under the age of 7, and he was specifically named after someone that meant a lot to the parents.

I know loads of Bobby's. All over 50. Very common nick name for older Scottish men.

I dont like it though Robert is an excellent name. Bobby is a nickname.

Thank you for your comments :)

Completely understand peoples opinions regarding the name being too nicknamey, but also wouldn’t want to call him a name I dislike just to be able to use Bobby as a nickname.

There are countless boys being given shortened names as their legal names.

Alfie, Albie, Ronnie, Freddie, Ollie.

People used to have the same horror about Jack but now that's a totally normal name.

Completely agree with this - I think in this next generation it will be very normal for people to have shortened names

I only know Bobby brazier and my friends dog. Bobbie is awful.

I know one Bobby and he’s about four. As a teacher. I never had one in any school I worked at. I agree Bobbie is female.
I also think it’s like a nickname and a bit of a ‘baby’ name. Sorry. Obviously we don’t all like the same things.

How do you feel about the likelihood of his name being shortened to Bob as he gets older?
I'd spell it Bobby.

I know a three year old Bobby. Bobbie is terrible.

Bobbie is the girl's version ( as in the Railway Children).
There was a thread earlier this week where someone was considering Robin as a name and the possibility of Bobby as a nickname. Might work if you prefer Robin to Robert.
I've only taught one Bobby in 15 years of teaching, but I don't know how popular it would be with under 7's.

I agree. When a neighbour told me her new baby was called Bobby I just couldn’t fathom why she’d done that. No family connections. Such a non name. Lazy

He'll spend his whole life answering people asking him if it's short for Robert (and probably wishing it was)

Remember, you're naming an adult who will need to use their name in a professional life. He'll be a cute baby with a cutsie name for 5 minutes.

I have a child with a 'nickname' as his given name. Don't actually like the longer version - but sometimes people do call him that as I guess they just assume that is the given name. So be prepared to let go of that a bit when you get it from strangers etc! Those close to us never do but strangers do when I use his name sometimes say his name as the longer alternative when speaking to him!

Bobby is fine - Bobbie is generally the feminine version

It’s definitely not common. I’m very surprised that you think it might be.

I don’t know any children called Bobby, it fits nicely with the trend for short versions as full names (as pp said Alfie, Archie etc) and you might start a new trend for more little Bobby’s!

It’s in the top 100 so tend to assume that means it’s popular, but clearly not :)