Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Alternatives to Olivia?

37 replies

Moomin8 · 19/08/2019 10:50

I love this name but it has been so popular for the last 15 years that I feel using it would be unoriginal.

Or does that not matter?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
AverageMummy · 19/08/2019 22:39

Of course classics date. Peter, Michael, Steven, Deborah.....

Olivia is vowel heavy & the no 1 name. It will almost definitely fall out of favour with the next generation as each generation finds their parents choices the most uncool thing ever.

I just never understand why it matters though. If you meet a Barbara or a Colin you’re probably thinking of a certain age, but how would that ever negatively affect them? It would be different if you had a dated name from the wrong generation as people would react a lot - I’m sure 30 year old Barbaras get a lot of surprise.

dottyaboutstripes · 19/08/2019 22:32

I have an Olivia and I'm struggling to think of any others I know! I say go for it

NannyR · 19/08/2019 22:30

I love the name Olivia, for all it's popularity I only know of one Olivia under the age of twelve.

BillywilliamV · 19/08/2019 22:24

I have an Olivia, I know one other Olivia. It’s a beautiful name and you don’t actually come across it that often. They all become Liv when they are teenagers anyway!

Rainbowknickers · 19/08/2019 22:09

I wouldn’t worry too much about it being popular
When I had my first I went with Sophie which was no1 in the baby name charts of that year
I met another Sophie for the first time after having her 4 years later in a coffee shop
And have only met another 2 since (she’s 22 now)

Curlysusie · 19/08/2019 21:46

Elodie?

GRW · 19/08/2019 21:45

I know an Ottilia which sounds similar. I like Lydia.

Cyberworrier · 19/08/2019 21:45

Or Alvia? I had a very cool great aunt called Alvia 😎

Beanosaurus · 19/08/2019 21:42

My friends daughter is called Alivia which I really like, just a slight twist on the classic name.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 19/08/2019 21:37

And....it's a classic. Classics don't date!

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 19/08/2019 21:35

I love it too. My DH says it's too popular but hoping I can convince him that it's only so popular because it's a beautiful name. Despite its popularity there still probably won't be more than one in a class.....

Cyberworrier · 19/08/2019 21:34

Olya (ohl-ya), Aurora?

Original poster
Moomin8 · 19/08/2019 21:31

Viola is lovely

OP posts:
fancytiles · 19/08/2019 21:30

Of you like Olivia just go for that!

Horseshoe1 · 19/08/2019 20:59

Sylvia / Sylvie
Eloisa
Alicia
Aurelia
Azalea

But I have a nearly 3 year old in London and haven't met an Olivia yet. I bet it’s going to go down in the name charts!

MikeUniformMike · 19/08/2019 20:39

I think it will be a name that will still be used but not be as wildly popular in a few years' time. A bit like Margaret, Elizabeth, Sarah, Rebecca etc.

An alternative might be Viola?

user1493494961 · 19/08/2019 20:01

Olivia is too classic to date. I agree, use it if this is the name you love, otherwise you may regret it.

LaPufalina · 19/08/2019 19:48

Ourania
Allegra
Emilia

Original poster
Moomin8 · 19/08/2019 19:44

Most names you can have a rough guess of the persons age, but You can’t with Olivia.

Excellent point!

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 19/08/2019 18:44

Rosalind
Sophia
Cordelia
Juliet

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 19/08/2019 18:42

Yes it’s popular but It’s also not faddy.
It’s classic and will probably remain so.
It suits any class and age.
Most names you can have a rough guess of the persons age, but You can’t with Olivia.

Cookit · 19/08/2019 18:37

I don’t think it matters.

Yes it’s number 1 but it doesn’t seem all that common - I think because there isn’t a name like it.
Girls names seem to predominantly start with E or A and then the top 100 names is just filled with names that sound like each other - Emily, Emilia, Amelia, Amelie... Eva, Eve, Evie, Ava, Evelyn and Evangeline ... you get the idea. At least Olivia stands alone.

AverageMummy · 19/08/2019 11:54

It will date - when they’re 70 they’ll sound 70 but does that matter?
If you want a name that won’t date you need to avoid the current trends so names beginning and ending with vowel sounds especially a & y/ie at the end & avoid names beginning with vowels.

AverageMummy · 19/08/2019 11:52

Olivia is a beautiful name & although it’s number 1, it’s still under 1% of babies because the current fashion is to be as unique as possible. I would still use it - it’s a beautiful classic name.

IsobelRae23 · 19/08/2019 11:41

Layla, Amelia, Anastasia, Annalise,Brianna, Celeste, Daniela, Esme, Emily, Eliza, Freya, Giselle, Genevieve, Hallie, Imogen, Josephine, Lorna, Laura, Leah, Marnie, Nellie, Ottilie, Ophelia, Pandora, Savannah, Thalia, Tianna, Vivienne, Willow

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread