All About Bob

M
ost of us started out as a Robert...

Of course as many people know, Bob is a diminutive (shortened version) of the given name, Robert.

My official, given name is Robert, or at least that's what it says on my birth certificate.

How people made the giant leap from Robert (including my parents) to calling me Bob all these years has always been a mystery. I mean, after all, it doesn't appear to me that the word bob flows distinctly from the word robert. I could see Rob or Bert, but "Bob"???

To me, that's like calling a Mike, Sam.

Is Bob just a silly spoof nickname of the popular given name Robert, or is there some hidden transformation/meaning that took place to get us from a Robert to Bob?

I needed to do a bit of research if nothing else then for my own benefit, and here's what I found.

First, according to the kind people at behindthename.com, the name Robert means "bright fame", derived from the Germanic elements hrod "fame" and beraht "bright". The Normans introduced this name to Britain. It belonged to three kings of Scotland, including Robert the Bruce who restored the independence of Scotland from England in the 14th century.

Now "Bob", again according to behindthename.com is the short form of Robert. It arose later from the medieval rhyming nicknames of Robert, Dob, Hob and Nob.

Humm, that still doesn't tell me much, but there may be a rhyme connection somehow??

Hob nobbin' with Bob?

For the record, I have been called all derivatives and nicks for the name Robert, including: Rob, Robbie, Robert' (French), Roberto (Spanish), Bawb (Texan), Bobert, Bo, Bobber, Bobster, Bobby, Bob-o, Bobaloo, Bobilino and Bobildo.

I prefer plain-o Bob, thank you very much.

I vow to continue my research.

Bob, the noun. (a person, place, thing or abstract idea)

1. a style of short haircut for women and children.
2. a docked horse's tail.
3. a dangling or terminal object, as the weight on a pendulum or a plumb line.
4. a short, simple line in a verse or song, esp. a short refrain or coda.
5. Angling. a. a knot of worms, rags, etc., on a string. b. a float for a fishing line. ie: bobber
6. a bobsled or bob skate.
7. a bunch, cluster, or wad, esp. a small bouquet of flowers.

Bob, the verb. (denotes action, an occurrence or state of being)

1. to strike with a quick light blow
2. to move up and down in a short quick movement (bob the head)
3. to move up and down briefly or repeatedly
4. to emerge, arise, or appear suddenly or unexpectedly
5. to nod or curtsy briefly
6. to try to seize a suspended or floating object with the teeth
7. to cut short or dock

(sorta gives a whole new meaning to the phrase 'being bobbed by a Bobbitt'!)

H
ow many famous Bobs can you think of?? What good Bob-related site wouldn't have at least a list of famous Bobs? Well then, below is a list to get you started. I imagine you can think of many more.

A side note. All Roberts, Robs, Robbies, Bobbys and Billys have been shortened to plain-o Bob for the sake of readability. Those names affected include a "*" next to them.

Bob Benson*
Bob Barker
Bob Blake*
Bob Brown*
Bob Conrad*
Bob Cowsill
Bob Crane
Bob Cray*
Bob Culp*
Bob Darin*
Bob DeNiro*
Bob Denver
Bob Dole
Bob Downey Jr.*
Bob Duvall*
Bob Dylan
Bob Frost*
Bob Eubanks
Bob Goldsboro*
Bob Guillaume*
Bob Heinlein*
Bob Hope
Bob Kennedy*
Bob Klein*
Bob Lowe*
Bob Ludlam*
Bob Keeshan
Bob Marley
Bob McFerrin*
Bob Mitchum*
Bob Newhart
Bob Palmer*
Bob Plant*
Bob Reiner*
Bob Redford*
Bob Roberson*
Bob Rydell*
Bob Saget
Bob Seger
Bob Shaw*
Bob Stack*
Bob Lewis Stevenson*
Bob Thomas*
Bob Thorton*
Bob Urich*
Bob Vaughn*
Bob Vinton*
Bob Vila
Bob Wagner*
Bob Welsh
Bob Woodward
Bob Young*

I'm sure you can think of a lot more, but you get the drift...there are a bunch of famous Bobs out there.

(Bob Hope photo courtesy of Classic Movies.)

Oh c'mon. Don't look so surprised! I thought everybody knew this stuff...

1. "Bob" in Russian means good swimmer.

2. The comet that flew near the earth in 1997 was in fact named Hale Bopp, and not Hail Bob.

3. Robert (Bob) was the most popular male baby name in 1953 (the year I was born), with 4.3% of us little guys being named Robert (Bob).

4. Most Bobs are quite spiritual beings, fully believing in the Boble.

5. Names like Sponge Bob and Bob the Builder are offensive to a true Bob.

6. The fencing material that ranchers use to contain livestock is in fact called barbed wire and not bob-wire.

7. The chorus line in the old Beach Boys song is actually "ba ba ba ba barbara ann" and NOT "bob bob bob bob boberan".

8. Bob spelled backwards is still boB, unless of course you add an additional "O", and then it becomes booB.

9. While most hurricanes are named after women, there was in fact a hurricane named Bob. Hurricane Bob struck New England and Canada in August of 1991 and had the distinction of being the only hurricane to strike the United States in that year. (Figures, us Bobs are fairly unique)

10. Most Bobs hate to be called Bobby.

S
ome things are just not the same without a bob attached to it. Take a peek below.

B.O.B. - Bug Out Bag
B.O.B. - Battle Over Britain
B.O.B. - Band Of Brothers
B.y.O.B. - Bring (your) Own Booze
Bob - the computer program
A bridge named Bob - in Colorado
Fat Bob - a large Robert or a motorcycle
Plumb Bob - an implement of angle
Bobbin for apples - a halloween game
Thread the Bobbin - sewing talk
Bobette - a female Bob
Bobby Pin - hair clip
Bobby Socks - funny looking footwear
Bobber - a float used in fishing
Bobwhite - the quail
Bobcat - a wild animal
Bobsled - wintertime fun
Barbecue Bob - a fine chef
Buffalo Bob - serves buffalo wings
Tennessee Bob - lives near the Smokies
Nevada Bob - owns a rock shop
Bad Bob - a not so good Bob
Bob - English slang for a shilling
Bobby - An English cop
Shish-Ka-Bob - cooked on the grill
Billy Bobs of Texas - a large bar/dance club
Jimbob - a common southern name
Joebob - Jimbob's cousin

And finally...
What About Bob - a movie.

Yessirreee Bob!

When in doubt, use a hammer.

Not all things are as they seem.

The Golden Rule has changed over the years. Now it appears to be: "Do onto others before they do onto you".

It's a Bob thing...you wouldn't understand.

We came into this world with no hair, no teeth and someone wiping our butts. And, that's exactly how we leave.

Humans were placed here for one reason...to entertain the animals. We are doing a good job.

Pain is a good teacher.

Just when I think I have the answer, they change the question.

Make at least one person laugh each day.

Sorry, I am having a bald moment.

I believe in hugs. Have you hugged a Bob today?

If flies didn't have wings, would we call them walks?

Changing one mind can change an entire mindset.