thoughts please on Liv?

[PorkusEnormous]

As in, Liv Tyler. Liv. Not short for Olivia.

I do like the nickname Livi, but is this what all Olivia's get called these days? There are a lot of Olivia's out there so does this mean a Liv/Livi would actually blend in with all the Olivia's?

[MaryAstor]

Liv is a standalone name but is Norwegian and is pronouned 'Leave'.

Liv pronounced phonetically is a nickname for Olvia or Livia. Everyone will assume it is a nickname for these, of course they will. And yes, there are a lot of those around so she will "blend in".

Liv Tyler has simply 'Liv' on her birth certificate, but some celebrity model naming her child some diminutive does not validate as a real name, imo.

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

Hmm i think most people would assume that it is Olivia.

We know several and they are all called Liv or Livvy most of the time.

[exoticfruits]

Everyone will assume it is Olivia. I can't see why you wouldn't put Olivia on the birth certificate and give her more options when older. Personally I would hate a lifetime of saying 'no it is just Liv, not Olivia'.

[PorkusEnormous]

MaryAstor...Norwegians also pronounce 'Olivia' as 'Oh-leev-ia'. I'm English so I pronounce their 'leev' as 'liv'.

[PorkusEnormous]

Liv Tyler was not named as a diminutive of Livia/Olivia. She was named after Liv Ullman a Norwegian actress.

The name Amelie is french and pronounced Am-AY-lee but I'm pretty sure everyone in England pronounces their DD's with that name as Am-eh-lee, because they're English?

[SamSmalaidh]

I know a (not Norwegian, but mixed European) Liv - some people pronounce it Leev and some as Liv, a bit like Lora/Lowra for Laura I suppose.

[AlmostAHipster]

I have very good reasons for loving this name - I chose it for my youngest. I think it's elegant and classy. It means 'life'.

When she meets new people, she sometimes gets asked if it's short for Olivia - it takes two seconds to say no and then the conversation moves on. It's no big deal.

I really don't think my child 'blends in' but I suppose I would say that, wouldn't I?

best nc now as I've totally outed myself

[MaryAstor]

Well, do you want, obviously. But how Norwegians pronounce Olvia is neither here nor there, really.

Liv is a Norwegian name and you will be pronouncing it incorrectly if you say it phonetically.

If you were French and called your daughter 'Sarah' but insisted that it was pronounced "Zerra", because that's how it works in your mother-tongue, then that's up to you, isn't it? It doesn't mean that 'Zerra' is a correct pronounciation.

[SamSmalaidh]

I think Sarah in a French accent is the correct pronunciation if you are French!

[AlmostAHipster]

My daughter's name is pronounced phonetically and I care not a jot. So ner

[MaryAstor]

Liv Ullman pronounces her name 'Leev'. So Liv Tyler prounces her name incorrectly, then, if she is named after her. Not that it's ether here nor there, really.

[PorkusEnormous]

How Norwegians pronounce Olivia is an example of how our 'liv' is their 'leev' and i would not use that pronunciation if I am not Norwegian.
As I said, Amelie is an example of a french name popular over here, but we English pronounce it differently, even though our pronunciation is 'wrong'.

[PorkusEnormous]

Liv Tyler pronounces it as 'Liv' because she's not Norwegian.

[SamSmalaidh]

My friend whose DD is called Liv pronounces it differently depending on what language she is speaking

[PorkusEnormous]

Anyways, AlmostAHipster, I agree it's an elegant and classy name :)

The Olivia presumption is slightly annoying, though. I don't want to put Olivia on the birth certificate because I don't want to call her Olivia. Not that keen on the name as a whole and it's far too popular imo.

[PorkusEnormous]

SamSmalaidh - perfect example, it's 'Leev' in Norweigian and 'Liv' in English!

[AlmostAHipster]

Porkus if you love the name, then there's really no reason not to choose it. Honestly, the Olivia thing is not a big problem - not everybody asks for clarification, most just say it's a lovely name when they hear it for the first time.

[Frikadellen]

I am Danish and Liv is used a lot as a name in Denmark it is not said Leave nor have I ever heard any Norwegians say it that way there is a short i sound and a heavy V sound so more like LiVv

for fun I found this website that " pronoounces it " for you... here

[Frikadellen]

btw I dont personally like it but due to very negative associations.

[PorkusEnormous]

Frikadellen that's interesting, thanks! Will have no guilt pronouncing it phonetically then!

*AlmostAHipster I'm running it past DH now :)

[MolotovCocktail]

I really like Liv. If we ever have another DD, a name where she could be called Liv would be high onnmy list.

However, I'd name the baby Livia or Olivia, simply because Liv doesn't feel like a full name to me. Of course, i know that it is; it just doesnt sound that way to me. It's a beautiful NN or diminutive..

[wigglesrock]

I have an Olivia who is called Liv (its wasn't intentional), but it stuck, apart from her baby sister who calls her Lou Lou . It really nice when you hear it out loud if that makes sense. She's just started primary school (5) and is the only Olivia in a very large year group. I know an adult Livia and I really love it. But if you like Liv I would just use it and wouldn't feel the pressure to use a longer version on birth certificate.

[LoveYouForeverMyBaby]

I really like Liv but I imagine a lot of people would assume it was short for Olivia.

[bananaramma]

How would you pronounce Liv - as Leev or Live? Not sure it sounds that feminine or elegant either way, sorry.