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Baby names

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

Original poster

How many little Olivers do you know?

62 replies

Greedysquirrels · 03/09/2016 13:13

Really struggling to come up with a boy's name that DH and I agree on. I have always loved Oliver but am hugely put off by its popularity having topped the names stats yet again for 2015. Despite the popularity, I don't actually know any young Olivers so wondered if I just live in a bubble. Are there several per class at school these days?

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Bluesand1 · 03/09/2016 20:26

2 Olivers and an Ollie at our nursery

Duckyneedsaclean · 03/09/2016 20:04

In 2015, there were 697,852 live births in England and Wales, and 6,941 of those were named Oliver. So about 1% total, roughly 2% of boys.

PandasRock · 03/09/2016 20:00

I know 5 Olivers - oldest is 11, youngest is a newborn - and I don't know a huge amount of children. One is in dd1's class, 2 are in dd2's class, and 2 are children of friends.

allthecarbs · 03/09/2016 19:57

I know 1.

I've heard it being called a lit though.

If you like the name go for it. I've got 2 kids with a top 5 name and I can honestly say it's never affected us.

pullthecracker · 03/09/2016 19:55

I know 6 amongst my friends children

plimsolls · 03/09/2016 19:54

I know one a few months old and one a few weeks old. But I know LOADS of kids so that proportion of 2 is tiny.

isitseptemberyet · 03/09/2016 19:51

i live in on the border of wales/ england and have children in nurseries and schools, i dont know any, but think its a lovely name :)

GoldPlatedBacon · 03/09/2016 19:14

My dd is 13 months. I've come across 6 Olivers now, I think, at various baby groups.

0pti0na1 · 03/09/2016 19:05

I know one.

fluentinsarcasm · 03/09/2016 17:59

A big fat zero...how strange.
Can't move for Judes and Dylans tho

pontificationcentral · 03/09/2016 17:49

How many boys born in the year, and how many registered as Oliver? That would give you a good start on how common it is to actually know lol. 1 in 20? Doubt it. 1 in 100? 1 in 1000? Being top of the list doesn't mean every other child is called Oliver when their are thousands and thousands of boy's names registered in a year.

When I named dd1 her name wasn't even in the top 100. Three months later a d-lister used it for her dd and it has been top 10 ever since. I have still only known another two girls with the same name in 16 years. I know two Olivers. Both are 14. And I met one more in a vaccination clinic last year who was 6 mos. so three total. I was also at school with one who must be around 45 now. Four. In my (considerable) lifetime lol.

user1459464195 · 03/09/2016 17:49

I just counted 8 Olivers that are children of my Facebook friends.

DontDeadOpenInside · 03/09/2016 17:45

I have an Oliver, he's just turned 3. I know of another who is a little older than mine.

I was going to call him George but was hugely put off by Prince George and thought it would be really popular, looks like most people thought the same as me and opted differently. Oh well.

RiverTam · 03/09/2016 17:44

I know a teenaged Oliver (16) and a 5yo one.

Caldini22 · 03/09/2016 17:43

Just one

ButterflyOfFreedom · 03/09/2016 17:34

I know two - one age 12 & one age 1

Izzadoraduncancan · 03/09/2016 17:29

I only know 2, one is my youngest and another is a nephew. None in sons school (though we are in Iteland and name has political connotations)

Middleoftheroad · 03/09/2016 17:27

There are 3 Olivers in Ds' (10) class of 30.

Original poster
Greedysquirrels · 03/09/2016 17:23

It's so weird isn't it. Where are all of these Olivers hiding?!

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Original poster
Greedysquirrels · 03/09/2016 17:23

It's so weird isn't it. Where are all of these Olivers hiding?!

OP posts:
Mausageandsash · 03/09/2016 15:26

I know 2 and I live in central London and haven't even heard of any others!

MrsGsnow18 · 03/09/2016 14:46

I don't know any that I can think of! I think there are maybe one or two though in my school.
Also have heard my sister talking about her friend's son Ollie so presumably he is Oliver on BC.
It's a lovely name and I wouldn't have thought it that overly popular.

WordGetsAround · 03/09/2016 14:07

I was just saying yesterday that despite it being most popular name again, I only know one, and he's 14! Where are they all?

Ollycat · 03/09/2016 13:35

My DS is an Oliver - he is one of 2 in his year at secondary (year 9) - and as is always the way with these things they are close friends - yes you will come across others with the name but not millions. I have never regretted giving him the name and he loves it. At his school there are a number of names shared by 4 or so pupils so Oliver is by no means one of the most popular.

ChessieFL · 03/09/2016 13:34

None. I just asked DD age 6 and she doesn't know any either!

The only Oliver I know is 39.