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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Would you go for Thomas or Oliver

57 replies

Mrsgrumble · 11/11/2014 20:29

That's it really.
Thank You

OP posts:
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LastOneDancing · 16/11/2014 19:31

Squoosh that's exactly why DH & I chose Thomas for our DS - never met a Tom we didn't like Smile

LexieSinclair · 16/11/2014 19:29

Thomas Smile

RRJRJR · 16/11/2014 19:25

Both are too high up in the ranking. If you want a classic name I would go for John - its strong and has a few nickname options Johnny being my choice.

Nocturne123 · 15/11/2014 22:41

Thomas definitely , I have a very soft spot for Tommy too . Not keen on Oliver at all

ShakyTheStork · 15/11/2014 22:11

Thomas

I have a nearly 5 yr old Thomas, have never, ever called him Tom, yet.

hiccupgirl · 15/11/2014 22:09

My DS has one of those names and has yet to be in a class with another child called the same for all their popularity. Strangely though there are 3 girls in his class at school called the same supposedly unusual name.

I think both names are a good classic choice that won't age as much as some of the more out there names. Which ones sounds better with your last name?

clary · 15/11/2014 15:49

Both very very popular.

Think Oliver was number 1 last year. Most classes I teach (secondary) have an Ollie and a Tom. All the DC have several friends and classmates with each name.

Neither is "timeless" - no name is really. Both popular 100+ years ago and now popular again (in last 15 or so years). That's fine. But I don't know any Toms or Ollies among my circle of 40-50yo husbands - all my mates (called Karen, Julie, Nicola, Tracey, Jill, Clare) are married to Steve, Stu, Mark, Martin, Andy, Dave!

I personally prefer Oliver but both are nice names, that's one reason why they are so popular tbh. But if you didn't know they were popular OP you need to I guess. In case it bothers you.

Sleepingtom · 14/11/2014 21:49

Thomas (biased) but Oliver would be my second choice out of all other names. Both lovely!

Montsti · 12/11/2014 18:22

Definitely Oliver! I do quite like Thomas too..fwiw I know way more Toms/Tommy's/Thomases

Alisvolatpropiis · 12/11/2014 18:17

Thomas.

And squoosh that is the first thing I thought!

In terms of the Cromwells, Oliver was by far the least pleasant.

Sophronia · 12/11/2014 17:33

Thomas, definitely.

Mrsgrumble · 12/11/2014 16:15

I really love Joseph but cannot use it as its dh father name and we already used a variant of his mothers. I wouldn't do at to my family. Unless I used my father as a middle ... Hmmmm

OP posts:
ThisFenceIsComfy · 12/11/2014 16:09

Thomas is always "popular". Has been for about 600 years. For me, that's not a negative. It means the name has stood the test of time and isn't just a fashion trend.

squoosh · 12/11/2014 15:06

I've never met a man called Tom that I didn't like. Ollies can be a bit spivvy.

Mrsgrumble · 12/11/2014 15:00

Oh dear. I didn't realise their popularity

We are Irish so there are many names to choose from. I like Emmet, dh doesn't. Eamon, dh not keen. Dermot etc

We also like Ciaran

It's just that DS has a very classic name and I want something like it

OP posts:
stripedtortoise · 12/11/2014 14:51

Not hugely keen on either. I think Thomas always sounds a bit wet and Oliver is so so popular.
However, I do quite like Tom :/

tammytoby · 12/11/2014 14:47

I'm afraid I too find both a little dull through sheer overuse. These names will be the Steves and Andys of today when they're adults and I know so many..!

But if I had to choose, I think I prefer Oliver.

squoosh · 12/11/2014 14:29

Fan of the Cromwells OP? Wink

itfcbabe · 12/11/2014 13:59

Oliver but then i have one who is nearly 12.

TempsPerdu · 12/11/2014 13:19

Both a bit too popular for me. But if I had to pick one, Thomas. It's had more sustained popularity and feels more timeless than Oliver, so likely to feel less faddy in a few years' time.

Clarabumps · 12/11/2014 10:27

Thomas.

JimbosJetSet · 12/11/2014 10:23

Do you prefer Tom/Tommy or Ollie? Although you may intend to call him by his full name, other people will have different ideas.

Castlemilk · 12/11/2014 10:21

Thomas. Oliver is classic, but FAR more associated with this last 15 years.

Thomas also hugely popular, but timeless. And Tom is much nicer than Ollie.

beachysandy75 · 12/11/2014 10:20

I like both of them but each class in my son's school has at least 2 of each.

ClawHandsIfYouBelieveInFreaks · 12/11/2014 10:20

Thomas. I just think of Oliver Twist when I hear Oliver. A mealy boy.

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