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HelpTobias
Okay, folks, I need some help here. It's been a while since I've posted or been around, but I'm having a sort of existential name crisis at the moment and I need your input.
Tobias.
Good, bad, anything in between? What is this name to you? Seriously, I need any and all of your opinions on this name. Do you like it? Does it frighten you? Is it too old? Does it make you think of creepy old men or men with their noses stuck in books? Or does it make you think of a young little child chatting away? Is a Tobias ugly, good-looking, tall, short, dumpy, well-dressed, blond, brunet, red hair, black hair? No hair? Is a Tobias well-mannered or a person you generally keep away from? What do you think of when you see this name? Would you like to see this on a real person or as a person in a story? Do Tobey Maguire and Arrested Development make or break the name to you, or do you see it as a fresh new name ready to take over the world?
Sorry for my eccentric post. It's a bit late in the evening for me. But I would really appreciate your input. Thank you guys!
Tobias.
Good, bad, anything in between? What is this name to you? Seriously, I need any and all of your opinions on this name. Do you like it? Does it frighten you? Is it too old? Does it make you think of creepy old men or men with their noses stuck in books? Or does it make you think of a young little child chatting away? Is a Tobias ugly, good-looking, tall, short, dumpy, well-dressed, blond, brunet, red hair, black hair? No hair? Is a Tobias well-mannered or a person you generally keep away from? What do you think of when you see this name? Would you like to see this on a real person or as a person in a story? Do Tobey Maguire and Arrested Development make or break the name to you, or do you see it as a fresh new name ready to take over the world?
Sorry for my eccentric post. It's a bit late in the evening for me. But I would really appreciate your input. Thank you guys!
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Replies
Thank you guys for your input!
All of your notes really helped and I appreciate it a lot! Thank you!
All of your notes really helped and I appreciate it a lot! Thank you!
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I adore the name Tobias - have ever since I was a kid. He was always my favorite Animorph. (And I've been rereading the series, so I'm falling back in love with the character and the name.)
It's very much a sweet, thoughtful, shy name to me. Probably because of the character, lol.
It's very much a sweet, thoughtful, shy name to me. Probably because of the character, lol.
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I hate Tobias. I hate Toby. I don't see anything to work with in this name. It's a sort of pet's name than a person's name, if you had to use it.
But I can appreciate it over something more top 100, I suppose.
But I can appreciate it over something more top 100, I suppose.
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I love Tobias! It has been one of my favorite names for a long time. I wasn't a fan of the nn Toby for a while (because of Maguire), but it has grown on me too, since he doesn't go by the full name so it's pretty distant from him in my mind. I know of a Tobias in a television show who is a grumpy, cynical, balding defense department agent, but I first learned of the name in a book series I used to read, and that character was soft spoken, kind, and young. I always picture a young Tobias as wiry, tall, and brunette, and as well-mannered and good-lookging. Because of the origin of this name for me, it is a bit literary, but I would LOVE to see it on a kid. I think it has a great ring (although some people dislike the "bias" part) and could go with a great many types of people. Keep up the hope, I think it's lovely. :)
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I like Tobias with the nn Toby. If I could only get my husband on board with it.
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I've always liked the sound of Toby. As a teen (when I met a Toby) I didn't know it was short for anything. However, I also really like Matthias, so when I found out Toby came from Tobias, I was thrilled. (Since then I've also discovered Josias, yay!)
I know a Tobias who is in his 30s. Delightful guy. Blond, glasses, very short-sighted, a great friend to all.
I know a Toby (just Toby) who is 12. So well-mannered and a great singer.
(I also know two dogs named Toby, but oh well...)
I know a Tobias who is in his 30s. Delightful guy. Blond, glasses, very short-sighted, a great friend to all.
I know a Toby (just Toby) who is 12. So well-mannered and a great singer.
(I also know two dogs named Toby, but oh well...)
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I like Tobias and would possibly use it. I think it's an name that ages well as I can easily imagine a young, inquisitive, energetic boy by the name as well as a kind, grounded, intelligent adult. I don't get just one image from the name. I don't think of "creepy old men" at all.
Toby is okay; I'm neutral on it for other people, but wouldn't use the nickname myself. I've mainly known it as a pet name.
Toby is okay; I'm neutral on it for other people, but wouldn't use the nickname myself. I've mainly known it as a pet name.
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I don't care for Tobias. There really isn't much of a reason other than that I just don't care for the sound of it. I dislike the nickname Toby. I remember an episode of "Cheers", in which Diane suggests the name Toby to someone, and then Carla says, "Aaaw, why don't you just name him Punkin Pie?" That's pretty much how I feel about Toby.
I picture a Tobias as a tall, young, blond, pudgy man who is good-natured but not too smart. When I stopped to think why I have this image, I realized it's because I read an historical novel which had a character of the name of Tobias who fits that description. It actually was a biographical novel entitled "The Winthrop Woman"---all of the characters really existed in the seventeenth century, including Tobias Feake--a real person. Who knows what Tobias Feake was really like, but the above is how he is portrayed in the novel. Since I've never known a Tobias, that's the image that always comes to mind when I think of the name.
I've never heard of Tobey Maguire, so that has no influence on me.
Is it a fresh new name ready to take over the world? I can see it happening.
I picture a Tobias as a tall, young, blond, pudgy man who is good-natured but not too smart. When I stopped to think why I have this image, I realized it's because I read an historical novel which had a character of the name of Tobias who fits that description. It actually was a biographical novel entitled "The Winthrop Woman"---all of the characters really existed in the seventeenth century, including Tobias Feake--a real person. Who knows what Tobias Feake was really like, but the above is how he is portrayed in the novel. Since I've never known a Tobias, that's the image that always comes to mind when I think of the name.
I've never heard of Tobey Maguire, so that has no influence on me.
Is it a fresh new name ready to take over the world? I can see it happening.
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I've always liked Tobias. I think it has a very calm, groundedness about it. It's a bit monk-ish, which I like. Physically I picture a Tobias to be small, brunette, and with bright, lighter eyes. When I was a kid I really liked it because of the Animorphs character. Which is why I named my cat Tobias! We call him Toby (that was my mom's trade-off at the time), but I don't really like the nickname Toby. I think it sounds whiny and weak.
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I love Toby. Toby is the only reason I would use Tobias, and then have Toby as a nickname. For some reason I always want to stress the B in Tobias, which makes it sound really strange...
I would imagine a Tobias to be quite bookish with brown hair and glasses. Maybe a little snobby as well, as Tobias does come across as a little pretentious.
I would imagine a Tobias to be quite bookish with brown hair and glasses. Maybe a little snobby as well, as Tobias does come across as a little pretentious.
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Oldish guy in homespun robes and handmade sandals, possibly a turban, steadily climbing a sand-dune.
Nothing bad about it, but it comes from a period and a civilisation that I'm not part of.
Toby is OK; pretty versatile name, could comfortably belong to just about anyone.
My first connection actually is with the greatest of Damon Runyon's short stories: Tobias the Terrible. Tobias is a weed and a wimp who inadvertently wins the heart of his girlfriend when he is arrested for being in possession of the side-arms of every gangster in town. Brilliant story. Read it! And he's known to the girlfriend (Miss Deborah Weems!) as Toby.
Nothing bad about it, but it comes from a period and a civilisation that I'm not part of.
Toby is OK; pretty versatile name, could comfortably belong to just about anyone.
My first connection actually is with the greatest of Damon Runyon's short stories: Tobias the Terrible. Tobias is a weed and a wimp who inadvertently wins the heart of his girlfriend when he is arrested for being in possession of the side-arms of every gangster in town. Brilliant story. Read it! And he's known to the girlfriend (Miss Deborah Weems!) as Toby.
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