Editor’s note: This post was originally published on June 24, 2010. It was substantially revised and re-posted on August 19, 2013.
He’s a study in contrasts – Biblical and apocryphal, superhero and geek. He’s been steadily on the rise in recent years, and now a popular series of novels could encourage more of us to use this name.
Thanks to Fran and Francis for suggesting Tobias as our Baby Name of the Day, and C in DC for suggesting the update!
This post originally started out with the Bible, but in 2013, we need to begin with another book.
Divergent.
Veronica Roth’s novel is about a dark future world, set in Chicago. Beatrice is coming of age, and that’s a very specific and scary experience in her world. The heroine is known as Tris, and her love interest is called Four – but his real name is Tobias.
Divergent is the first book in a trilogy, and now a film adaptation is coming in March 2014. It could be Hunger Games-level huge.
But Tobias first appeared in a very different book. If you’re Catholic, you’ll recognize him from the Book of Tobit. The Protestants, however, exclude this book from their Bible.
The tale is set in the eight century BC, in Nineveh. Tobit is father to Tobias; both names are derived from the element tobih – my good. The book involves travel and marriage and demon-wrestling. The angel Raphael secretly assists Tobias as he completes his tasks. Renaissance artists were inspired by the story – see the artwork above.
You’ll find a handful of men named Tobias throughout the centuries, including a fourth century saint.
But let’s talk about Toby. While Tobias has never ranked higher than #472, and today stands at a relatively obscure #515, Toby fared well in the 1970s, peaking at #190 in 1975. In 2009, he came in at a distant #670.
Together they make for a familiar choice:
- Fictional bearers of the name have included a notable television trio, characters in The Office, Arrested Development, and The West Wing.
- The baby brother stolen by goblins in 1986’s Labyrinth was called Toby, as was the child actor who played the part.
- There’s also Tobin, sometimes listed as a pet form of Tobias and sometimes viewed as a separate surname related to the Irish Tóibín, derived from place name Saint Aubin in Brittany.
- Toby has also taken a turn as a girl’s name, probably thanks to Toby Wing. Miss Wing – born Martha – was well-known in the 1930s, and even rated a star on Hollywood Boulevard.
Say Toby today, and you might think of:
- Tobey Maguire, born Tobias, the actor also known as Peter Parker and his alter ego, Spider-Man
- Country music superstar Toby Keith.
- Author Tobias Wolff, whose 1989 memoir This Boy’s Life was adapted for the big screen in 1993, with Leonardo DiCaprio as the lead.
Overall, Tobias as one of those names that is familiar and nicely quirky, too. You won’t stun anyone by choosing Tobias for your son, but he’s still something of a surprise. If you’re after a scholarly appellation with some spirit, Tobias and Toby could be the choice for you.
The first fictional Tobias which came to my mind was Tobias Snape, father of Severus Snape of the Harry Potter series. I do like the name. For me, it has more of a Puritan vibe than a Catholic one.
I think that’s one HP name I’d missed completely – thanks for the info, EK. And yeah, I do get that – Tobias, Josiah, Ezra … he’d fit right in with all of those names.
I really like Tobias, and Tobiah. And I also like the nickname Toby. I would use it in a heartbeat!
Don’t forget the street urchin/orphan “Toby” in Sweeney Todd. That’s the name connection for me:)
I know a couple young Toby’s here in England, and I wish they were the nicknames for a more properly named Tobias.
Love it love it love it. I didn’t know that it was strictly a Catholic name though?
What do we think? Would brothers Raphael and Tobias be too much?
I wouldn’t say it is strictly Catholic, though there is a pint-sized Tobias in Clio’s (Catholic, run-by-a-nun) child center at the moment. It’s just that he’s only Biblical if you’re Catholic. Pretty much everybody else has dismissed the tale.
Raphael and Tobias is a GREAT sibset. And honestly? There’s a family at my church with kids name Gregory, Gloria and Regina. I don’t think most people realize how VERY religious those names are.
Not a favorite for me, but I’d love to meet a little Toby. I was surprised to learn that it’s also a girl’s name.
The first Toby I think of is from The West Wing, but I also remember a critical scene from Roots, the miniseries. Kunta Kinte (LeVar Burton, later John Amos) is reluctant to accept his slave name, Toby. Years later, when his daughter Kizzy (Leslie Uggams) finds his wooden grave marker, she scratches out the name Toby and corrects the marker to read Kunta Kinte.
That’s right! Maybe not a great association for Toby …
I’m not really a fan of Tobias, especially with the nickname Toby. I have a female cousin named Tobey, so it sounds really feminine to me.
I’m frequently a fan of ends-in-s names for guys and this name’s no different. For me, it has the right combination of quirky and familiar combined. I’m not as big a fan of Toby, however. The only Toby I’ve ever known was a girl, and while she is a wonderful person, knowing her has put the name in gender limbo for me.
I knew a girl Toby, too, a counselor at my Girl Scout camp. That makes her around the right age to be one of those 1960s era Tobys … sort of fit with Jodi, I guess.
Love Tobias. So handsome!
I’m really not a fan of any Tob- name. The sound is extremely unattractive to my ears. I have a grating second cousin named Toby, and he doesn’t exactly help.
my first baby name of the day suggestion and i had no idea it was biblical! thanks for covering it :). tobias is the name of my second son and it did take the west wing connection to get my husband to agree to it. i do think the name is slightly more common in england than in the states but i’ve never met a female toby