Olive, Delphine/a, Blanche and Belle

[MissHavishamsDress]

I think Olive is such a refreshing change from the ubiquitous Olivia and rather fancy the others too. What do you discerning MNer name-boffs think?

Would welcome other such old-fashioned-but now-rather-refreshing name suggestions.

[henryhuggins]

Mabel is my absolute fav girls name

Delphine/Delphi is v sweet too

[Poohbearsmom]

Love olive it's beautiful. I really like isabella/bella not keen on belle or delphine/a myself, sorry... More names... Dorothy... Dorothea... Margarette... Katherine... Celeste... Beatrice... Caroline... Josalin... Esme... Rosalie...

[MRSwereWOOLFhasabroomofherown]

Olive - has a cool modern vibe
Delphine - not keen, has an American feel too if that makes sense
Belle - like as short form best
Blanche - used to think of Jane Eyre and Golden Girls, but have recently reread Brideshead, so puts me in mind of Tony Blanche.

Similar names not yet fashionable which I find appealing:

Enid, Maude (dd's middle name) and Mildred (think Hubble/Worst Witch). Agree with Dorothea also.

[diddl]

Not keen on any names in OP,but for "old" names, like Edith.

[gorionine]

I love all of them . Would not be able to pick one from the list!

[Aubergines]

I love Olive. Wanted it for DD2 but DH would not be persuaded. I also wanted Dorothea and Maude. If I have another DD I will insist on Dorothea who could be known as Dotty, Dora or Thea.

[Botbot]

I think you have to be youngish to like Olive. Anyone over, say, 35 is haunted by memories of On the Buses.

I love Delphine, and Blanche (despite Golden Girls associations). Belle a bit too Disney for me though.

[Vivia]

Mmm, Delphine is simply gorgeous!

[bellissima]

Botbot got there first - Olive is On the Buses.

Have to say not particularly keen on the others - Botbot totally right on Belle, to me Blanche is tragic Tennessee Williams (and also just a bit pretentious somehow) and I just don't like Delphine.

sorry. not being helpful. I like Isobel though - could use Belle as nn.

[mumoftoomany]

I cannot say Olive without thinking about a oily, delicious black olive .

Blanche and Belle are lovely!

[StephHaydock]

Belle is nice. Blanche is hideous. Olive is harsh and not very pretty, imo.

[MamaLazarou]

Olive is the frumpy wife from On The Buses for me, I am afraid!

I love Blanche and Delphine.

Belle always makes me think of the prostitute from Gone With the Wind.

[JenJam]

at our nursery one of the children has a sister called Olive. she is very sweet.

And my sister has two month old Olive and it suits her. it's quite cute, unique/quirky vs. Olivia, and and can be shortened to Liv, livvy and Oli (like Georgia and George)
My brother was initially negative about it thinking Olive Oyl but she is now beautiful wonderful two month old Olive - she has made the name pretty i y s w i m

I think it's nice because it's sort of familiar, yet different

Delphine feels a bit 'we're trying hard' to be different as in 'wow'!
Blanche is colourless or old ladyish to me. blank canvas i guess
Bella is cute as a short version of something else
hope that helps and is not too rude

[Songbird]

Love love love Olive - no-one's mentioning Little Miss Sunshine!!

[MissHavishamsDress]

Oh yes, Little Miss Sunshine, now I knew there was another reason I liked the name Olive!

[MissHavishamsDress]

Mrs Werewolf, my grandma was Enid, and dh likes the name - I would love to love it but don't know if I can force myself if that makes sense. Sadly grandma never liked her name and preferred to be known as Nina - would not want to wish that on another being.

[SorciereAnna]

"So dowdy they're cool" . Not convinced, personally.

[CuppaTeaJanice]

Belle again? This is about the fifth Belle thread this week!!!

[MrsVik]

I like them all except Blanche. Love Olive!

[piscesmoon]

Olivia is lovely but hate Olive (oil)-dislike the rest too.

[notsoteenagemum]

I love Olive and Blanche.

I also love Maggie, Margot, Enid, Edith, Francis, Millicent, Betty, Connie, Winnie.

Not keen on Delphine/a and Belle will always be a dogs name fo me.

[LaDiDaDi]

I don't like Olive.

Other ideas

Daphne, Mabel, Cora, Thora, Eunice, Thelma.

[campion]

Poor little girls ending up with some of these names. Just because a child is cute and pretty ( they all are when they're yours or you're close to them) doesn't make the name pretty.

Olive just makes me think of Popeye.

[thumbscrewwitch]

nope, can't do Olive at all - if not Olive Oyl then Olive from On The Buses springs to mind. [sad old bird emoticon]

Like the others though.

[WineMumBethany]

I suggest a nice royal name like Bartholomew. It really asserts dominance at a young age