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Baby names

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

Thoughts on Olivia

64 replies

curlyhairdiva · 21/10/2020 18:02

Hi all,
So basically, both me and my partner love the name Olivia and have agreed that if we have a baby girl we would possibly go for this name. I just wondered what all you guys opinion on it is? Do you think its too popular at the moment? I also like Jean as a middle name, as this is my partner's nan's name and I just feel like it fits really well (Olivia Jean). What's your thoughts?

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CharlieBoo · 26/10/2020 16:48

It’s in the same group as Isabelle/a for me, it’s beautiful, but it’s so popular it’s slightly dull. A guy I went to school with just named his second daughter that. His first daughters name was quite unusual so I was really surprised.

However if you love it go for it x

Enough4me · 26/10/2020 16:04

I prefer Elizabeth (Lizzie) as a similar tone.

pprmint · 26/10/2020 16:01

I didn't like Olivia much but it's starting to really grow on me. I love that it can be shortened to Liv or Livi.

On the downside, it is very popular.

MimiDaisy11 · 26/10/2020 13:18

If anything it's worse to have a previously enormously popular name on its way down

I think that's a good point. I also have a name which was popular for a few decades and died down in popularity around the time when I was born. Most women you see on TV etc with my name are around 15-20 years older than me, and I feel it could be seen as an old person's name in a few decades. Maybe that's just ageism and it shouldn't matter.

Bid876 · 25/10/2020 13:34

I like Olivia Jean, sounds very nice. I personally think Olivia is too popular, I never go with popular names but it’s your choice. On the upside you will get lots of things with her name on x

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 25/10/2020 11:01

@JollyGiraffe12

Beautiful name and not overused on babies these days more of a primary school popular name IMO. Jean is pretty and nice to have a middle name with meaning.
I have to disagree here. PP are right that names in general are becoming more diverse and that raw numbers are slowly declining but there were still just over 4,000 Olivias named in 2019 and it was the number 1 name in 8/10 regions (#2 in West Midlands and London). If OP isn't fussed by this then that is grand but if popularity is a concern then Olivia is not the name to choose.
ifiwasascent · 25/10/2020 10:45

Really don't like it. It's so so so overused and basic. Always gets shorted to Liv

Heh1991 · 25/10/2020 01:35

Olivia is a gorgeous name and whilst it’s popular it’s popular for a reason! It’s a very pretty name and perfect for a girly girl with nickname options Liv, Livvy, Olive if she’s a tomboy. Also think it’s lovely for a baby, child and adult. So what if it’s popular she’s your Olivia and Olivia Jean is an unusual combination x

MercyBodle · 25/10/2020 01:32

Olivia Jean is a lovely, elegant name.

JollyGiraffe12 · 24/10/2020 21:03

Beautiful name and not overused on babies these days more of a primary school popular name IMO. Jean is pretty and nice to have a middle name with meaning.

Raffaella13 · 24/10/2020 20:58

I like the name Olivia but if you are put off by popular names don't go for it.

pinkpanther84 · 23/10/2020 17:34

Olivia is a beautiful name

LittleTiger007 · 23/10/2020 17:14

It is a lovely name. Sadly for me the fact that it is number one on the popularity list puts me off. There’s literally at least one Oliver and an Olivia in every classroom currently. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just be aware of it.

Felicity88 · 22/10/2020 12:06

It's obvious that it's very, very popular at the moment (currently #1) but that hasn't put you off it being your favourite so don't let our opinions put you off it either.

Jean is a lovely middle name.

NotAnotherHelen · 22/10/2020 11:12

@Whatsyourflava

Olivia Jean is really lovely

Whilst olivia is still the number 1 name, it's numbers have been falling each and every year since 2017. There was well over 1,000 less baby Olivia's in 2019 than there was in 2017

Nice idea but not really relevant in any longitudinal sense when there have been circa 4k Olivias at minimum born every year since 1999. If anything it's worse to have a previously enormously popular name on its way down - see my username, given to me in the Eighties!
ThanksItHasPockets · 22/10/2020 11:06

I used to teach a class with six Olivias, all of whom were really quiet and studious with almost identical hairstyles. I had to learn to identify them by their handwriting.

Squeakerfoot · 22/10/2020 11:00

I've always liked it. Even if it's popular it'll vary by area how many you'll encounter. I only know one little Olivia.

Whatsyourflava · 22/10/2020 10:12

Olivia Jean is really lovely

Whilst olivia is still the number 1 name, it's numbers have been falling each and every year since 2017. There was well over 1,000 less baby Olivia's in 2019 than there was in 2017

MimiDaisy11 · 22/10/2020 10:08

I really like the name Olivia, and Olivia Jean does go well together. Personally, I ruled it out as it has been the top name for so long, but you just need to ask yourself if that bothers you. There are benefits to having a popular name.

MegaBloxRoxx · 21/10/2020 22:18

Great name but so popular.

How about Jeannie Olivia instead?

Hannah12345625 · 21/10/2020 21:49

It's so popular at the moment. I am a teacher and there are FIVE Olivias in the class!!

MrsBonnie · 21/10/2020 21:47

Absolutely love Olivia. It's a classic, and is popular for a good reason. I teach in a school in Chester and we only have 2 Olivia's across the years. Not as popular as Isla, Isabelle/a or Lucy.

DesdemonaDryEyes · 21/10/2020 21:46

Very popular. Nice name.

I know a family where one had a son. Named him Oliver. His sister had a daughter a few weeks later. Ages before the name was announced. Olivia.

emilybrontescorsett · 21/10/2020 21:43

Classic and timeless

Firebird83 · 21/10/2020 21:41

Boring. I’d swap them and go with Jean Olivia.

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