Toby

[LavenderStar]

Thanks for everyone's help on my previous "Isaac vs Bruno" thread! DH and I both love Isaac but not sure what we would call any future siblings. I think a lady with an Isaac also posted it was different to her other siblings' names ... but since I am the sort of person whos shoes always match her handbag ... it would bother me if my children's names did not "match"! I'm not sure I want to be restricted to just biblical names.

SO, our new name is Toby. What does everyone think? What kind of person do you think of when you hear the name? I posted about this name ages ago and know it means something rude in Scottish but since I'm not Scottish and don't live in Scotland this doesn't bother me.

I like classic boys names like Oliver, George, Harry, James, Jack, William etc. Does Toby "go" in this sort of category of names?

My feeling is it is fairly posh (fine by me!) but also maybe a bit "wet" (not so great)?! I don't know if this is because I am thinking of Toby Macguire or Toby Anstis though!

Ooh my DS2 is Toby Alexander too!,

Oh no - does Toby sound like Tim???

Wordgirl can I ask what the names of your other children are?

I like Toby too! Tis my nephew's name (short for Tobias but no-one calls him this).

All the positive posts are winning me around - thanks!

Although I am still concerned about the Toby vs Tim comparison and the 1970s thing??!

Any views?

Sorry to go on ... !

I think it sounds a bit old-fashioned to be honest. I like Tobias though and would use that in full.

Personally, I think you can get away with smart names without educating at public school if the milieu that your children mix in is of that ilk anyway. Or that's what I like to think as having number 3 DC put private education outside our reach which meant that even with privately educated parents, a double barrelled surname and living in a middle class area, DH vetoed Monty, but I'm going to work on him for number 4 . My DCs are all at (state) school/nursery with Sebastians, Oscars, Hectors, Hugos, Isabellas, Arabellas, Elouises etc, although there are a couple of exceptions - Bradley and Raven to name a couple!

I like old-fashioned ... so long as it is old-fashioned as in William and not old-fashioned as in Stanley?!

I think you can get away with smart names anywhere and you shouldn't try to "fit in" with other children/trends in your area. Who knows if/when you might move house, or what your child might turn out to do (PM anyone?)

Having said that Monty along with a double-barrelled surname kind of takes it out of the realms of smart and into the realms of daddy-bought-me-a-private-jet-for-my-18th!!

I think the names you have mentioned at the end of your post are all very nice, and smart (apart from Elouise which is probably less so). Are you saying Toby/Tobias falls into these realms?

Raven - hmmmmm!

I guess on my 'old-fashioned-o-meter' it woudl be on the side of William rather than Stanley, yes.

We certainly didn't choose names to fit in with our area - we've moved every time we've had a baby anyway - just ones that we loved and worked together, although we did try to choose ones that were outside the top 100. Unfortunately, 2 of the 3 are now within the top 75 (Theodore and Matilda/k/a Theo and Tilly) and there is another Rufus in my a/n group!!

Personally I don't like it. Sounds v posh and also a bit like a labrador.

I am Scottish (so realise my opinion is not counting for much , although I do live in Engerland), I feel Toby is a very English name and I am afraid my dh does think it is a wimp's name and agree with the Tim comments. [sorry to anyone with a Toby]

Loving Rufus.

Was wondering when the dog thing might come up! That doesn't both me so much.

And don't mind posh. I guess it is difficult to say whether it is posh posh or what I consider classic though, as all mumsnetters will be from different walks of life. I've grown up with boys like Thomas, George, James, Hugo, Matthew etc and I also quite like (although don't love) names like Henry, which seems to be coming back into fashion. So long as it's not Giles posh I don't mind?!

Do you think it sounds wet like Tim or 1970s?!

Thanks Fimbo. I like it but the wimpy/Tim thing is a big concern!

My ds's middle name is Duncan.....

LOL!

Like a wet 1970s Tim?! .
No, I don't consider it to be a particularly wimp-like name - DH vetoed Julian on that score - but I do think it's a bit 70s, yes.

But, as I always say to people who ask about their name choices, if you really like it, who cares what anyone else thinks?! (Unless you're about to call a child Teapot or something ridiculous obviously.....)

I know ... just find it hard to think objectively about the name as I used to know someone called Toby. He wasn't at all wimpy by the way!

Now - 1970s - why/how pray tell? Like Simon/Andrew?!

I love the name Toby, but I'm biased as my ds is called it.

Thanks - do you have other children countes?

I love it - but am maybe biased as it's my brother's name. He's not Tobias, just Toby and his middle name is James..

Ooh Toby James also very nice. Cavs will you say what your real name is? Sorry I keep asking everyone but I want to get an idea of what sort of name it is/what names it goes with.

If we have a girl it will probably be Charlotte Emily.

I guess 70s because I was at prep school with a couple but don't know any little ones!

I can't think of a 70s 'icon' or well known personality called Toby though, so perhaps it's just me being ridiculous!

Charlotte Emily is gorgeous for a girl.

Thanks .. VERY glad to know there are no 70s icons I have forgotten about!

I know a Toby born in the 1970s too but was hoping it was a classic like James which was good then and now.

I hope it's a girl, boys names are such hard work! Our no. 1 for a boy is actually Oliver but we know about 10 Olivers already (friends and family). Would like him not to be one of 10 Olivers in his class.

I'm Caroline in RL! Never really thought about if me and my brother's names go together or not, and now I am, I'm not sure they do!
Sorry, not very helpful but I think a Toby and a Charlotte would be lovely together...

Thanks Cavs (me too)! (Glad you're not a Georgia-Jade or similar!!)

I like it but know a few Tobys. I live in East Anglia and here a Toby is a mischievous spirit, sometimes used as an insult by the older generation. I think that's a rather obscure meaning though.

I like the name Toby - its on our shortlist (baby due on friday and still can't agree). Funny people comparing it to William as that would be the middle name we'd use !

I wanted it first time round had dd been a boy but dh couldn't get away from the Antiss connection but he seems to have managed it this time.

Cantsleepwontsleep - i knew a Toby who had a brother Barnaby when I was growing up... wonder if they're the same ?