I’m a massive Manchester United supporter, (soccer fan) and, after seeing United(the documentary about the 1958 plane crash that killed 8 [name]Man[/name] United players and injured more) for the umpteenth time, I’m in love with the name [name]Bobby[/name], and I think naming my son [name]Bobby[/name] after [name]Bobby[/name] [name]Charlton[/name] (legendary [name]Man[/name] United player) would be honourable. [name]Bobby[/name] [name]Charlton[/name]'s first name is [name]Robert[/name], but fiance and I aren’t entirely crazy about [name]Robert[/name]. Can the name [name]Bobby[/name] be pulled off as a name?
I think he’d spend his entire life telling people that no, his name isn’t actually [name]Robert[/name]. I wouldn’t do [name]Bobby[/name] as a fn by itself, sorry.
[name]Bobby[/name] can work as a first name. [name]One[/name] of my friends is named [name]Bobby[/name] [name]Blake[/name], but he goes by [name]Blake[/name] because he doesn’t like [name]Bobby[/name]. I, personally, don’t like it no matter how it’s used, but it can work as a name.
I’ve asked [name]Blake[/name] before (like a year ago) if he’s ever been asked if his name is [name]Robert[/name] instead of [name]Bobby[/name] (we were next to a guy named [name]Rick[/name] who was asked if his name was actually [name]Patrick[/name], which it isn’t, so I asked [name]Blake[/name] out of curiosity), he said that it’s only happened less than ten times his entire life (he’s 21). I wouldn’t worry about him being constantly asked what his full name is. Nickname-y names are quite popular, have been for a while, and won’t go away anytime soon.
With the right middle, I think it’s definitely doable. I’m one who’s always in favor of the “why” above all else, and [name]Bobby[/name] is clearly a name with great significance to you. That means something. (All my hypothetical future sons are getting named after astronauts, so I feel you on the desire to honor :D)
I am totally crushing on [name]Bobby[/name] now too! Though for completely different reasons. I don’t like [name]Robert[/name] all that much but I don’t think [name]Bobby[/name] sounds mature enough to work, and be taken seriously on, an adult. My friend’s brother is called [name]Bobby[/name], at the moment he’s about 14 and quite juvenille so it suits him, but I can’t really see it fitting a heart surgeon, or a lawyer, or someone like that. I’m also crushing on [name]Bobby[/name] for a girl and [name]Roberta[/name] is a high contender on my list but I’d probably be more likely to use [name]Bo[/name] than [name]Bobby[/name] for her. 
I really like [name]Bobby[/name] but I don’t think it will work as a real first name. I don’t like [name]Robert[/name] either but he will constantly be asked if his name is [name]Robert[/name].
Yeah, haha it probably sounds really odd that I’m wanting to name my son after a footballer/soccer player, but he’s an honourable person, which is why we chose it for a son.