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Baby names

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

Original poster

Olive...opinions please

104 replies

Gdacsmum · 14/05/2018 09:34

Hubby and I really like Olive for a girl (Olive Joan Nora) but I am worried as it’s a bit unusual and I would hate if she was teased/didn’t like her name. Do you know any olives, how was the name received, any thoughts? Thanks

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Original poster
Gdacsmum · 16/05/2018 09:23

Thanks the other option is Olive Elsie Joan

OP posts:
PersisFord · 14/05/2018 23:51

Gorgeous. Go for it!

Buntysoven · 14/05/2018 23:40

One of our tortoises is Olive and she's feisty fabulous and affectionate so it's a huge yes from me!

tentontruck · 14/05/2018 22:25

I love it. It makes me think of sunny Mediterranean olive groves. I know two little Olives and they're both lovely.

MollyHuaCha · 14/05/2018 21:10

Lovely name

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 14/05/2018 20:51

Lovely ! 😀

PandaCat · 14/05/2018 20:48

I love it! I think it's better than Olivia.

Proudmummy2MA · 14/05/2018 20:47

Love the name Olive :-)

It was my wonderful Nanny's name (although she hated it and was always known by her middle name!) I've never met another one.

buttercup54321 · 14/05/2018 20:01

She sounds 90 already. Prefer Olivia.

sonnyboo · 14/05/2018 20:00

Olive doesn't sound very feminine.

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 14/05/2018 19:30

Heather and Hazel... hmm, maybe it's names that are also things that I'm not keen on! All of these names to me seem heavy, dull, a bit heavy going

I think of Hazel and Heather as a bit heavy and dull as well, I hadn't really examined it but you nailed my feelings on those names Grin but Olive seems brighter somehow to me.

One of the Olives I know is called Ollie as a nn, which kind of suits her as well.

MargotLovedTom1 · 14/05/2018 19:25

Don't like it at all - very drab IMO.

DramaAlpaca · 14/05/2018 19:22

I'm in my 50s & I love Olive, it's a fabulous name.

I absolutely hate Joan & Nora though, for the same reasons as the posters above. Sorry.

But I agree with others that the middle names would flow much better if swapped round.

MikeUniformMike · 14/05/2018 19:13

What if she really hates olives?

MycatsaPirate · 14/05/2018 18:29

wease' Harsh! I'm nearly 50 and I definitely don't have the same views as you!

The first Olive I knew was an old lady who adopted the entire family when we moved house - she had been friends with the elderly couple who previously lived there and just kept on coming round! Lovely lady with a heart of gold.

Curious about the Olive and Arthur thing - why not? My friend with the Olive also has an Arthur.

yikesanotherbooboo · 14/05/2018 18:27

I think it is sweet and current . Not unusual around here .
Joan is not yet in the crest of a wave but I am sure it is coming in . Lots of positive connotations as far as I am concerned . Olive is a bit more frivolous.

Original poster
Gdacsmum · 14/05/2018 18:01

Wow some strong opinions

OP posts:
crunchtime · 14/05/2018 17:25

*live is a drab ugly colour and a nasty tasting food item. The name itself sounds ugly to me and in the same bracket as Ethel, Mavis and Beryl; probably because I'm of an age when anyone called Olive (or Joan or Nora) was elderly.

To your generation these names presumably sound fresh but to mine they are fusty and horrible. No matter that most of this thread is positive, be prepared for your older relatives to be less than thrilled. My DM's best friend is called Joan - a miserable woman in her 80s - so I could imagine her reaction!*

this!!!

WeaselsRising · 14/05/2018 17:24

I'm in my 50s, so probably your parents generation, and I hate it! Olive is a drab ugly colour and a nasty tasting food item. The name itself sounds ugly to me and in the same bracket as Ethel, Mavis and Beryl; probably because I'm of an age when anyone called Olive (or Joan or Nora) was elderly.

To your generation these names presumably sound fresh but to mine they are fusty and horrible. No matter that most of this thread is positive, be prepared for your older relatives to be less than thrilled. My DM's best friend is called Joan - a miserable woman in her 80s - so I could imagine her reaction!

SymphonyofShadows · 14/05/2018 17:17

Just don't call any future DS Arthur if you are using Olive

user1490465531 · 14/05/2018 17:13

Don't really like these old fashioned names coming back in fashion to be honest.

CheeseTheDay · 14/05/2018 16:50

We got the 'On the Buses' comment a few times. You can find 'pop culture' references on pretty much any name really, so it washed over us.

3luckystars · 14/05/2018 16:20

My favourite person in the whole world is called Olive. It's a FANTASTIC name.

bridgetreilly · 14/05/2018 16:15

I love Joan and Nora but I admit, I'm not at all keen on Olive.

AnyaMoondial · 14/05/2018 16:14

Love it.

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