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Baby names

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

Original poster

Otto or Ivo?

59 replies

Peaboddy · 03/12/2021 19:42

Which do you prefer and why?

What do you think of each name?

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
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Etinoxaurus · 06/12/2021 17:43

Lovely names.
With a similar vibe (not that you asked!)
Idris
Bede

user1493494961 · 06/12/2021 17:40

I like Ivo and would pronounce it eye-vo. Dislike Otto.

SoupDragon · 06/12/2021 17:22

How many Ottos do you know?

One, and he's a dog 😂

KirstenBlest · 06/12/2021 17:21

Not keen on either, but I'd say Eevo.

if you like -o names how about Nero, Cosmo, Bruno or Jago?

ElectraBlue · 06/12/2021 17:19

Don't like either of them. Rather old fashioned and stuffy. Why did you pick these names? do you the have a specific/special meaning for you and your family? if not in your shoes I would choose again.

MrsFin · 06/12/2021 17:16

@Luredbyapomegranate

Ivo. Though I prefer Ivor - it’s an nice earthy Welsh name!

Otto makes me think of Nazis so it’s a no from me.

Ifor in Welsh. Pronounced Eevor.

I like Ivan. Also Otto.

earsup · 06/12/2021 17:12

Ivo is hungarian i think...have a few friends from there with this name...i prefer otto.

Sprig1 · 06/12/2021 17:05

I don't know any Otto or Ivos. I would pronounce Ivo as Eye vo. Don't over think it. Just pick a name that you like. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

TheFreaksShallInheritTheEarth · 06/12/2021 16:58

*Ee-vo, even!

TheFreaksShallInheritTheEarth · 06/12/2021 16:57

@malovitt

I have an Ivo, named him after a Cocteau Twins song. He’s now an adult and I still love his name.
The Cocteau Twins song was what I immediately thought of too! Wink

I really like both names, OP, which I guess isn't remotely helpful! And I prefer Ivo pronounced "Ee - co".

CtanaKatis · 05/12/2021 02:40

This reply has been deleted

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Marimaur · 05/12/2021 00:25

Ivo

Original poster
Peaboddy · 04/12/2021 19:30

Thanks for all the comments. I don’t know any Ottos personally but have seen it described as trendy before. It’s not the end of the world but we both have common/dated type names and would prefer not to give DC something similar.

Eye-vo is the pronunciation we prefer but I do like ee-vo too. I think I prefer it to Otto in any case, so it’s nice to see some positive comments here.

We still have several months to decide but I think Ivo is feeling like a strong possibility. I like how short yet kind of weighty it is. We have a pretty plain 3-syllable surname (think Robinson) so I think short but unusual works well for the first name.

OP posts:
Twizbe · 04/12/2021 17:00

Otto for sure, but my secondary school was called St Ivo which was always just called The Ivo. I can't imagine a real person called Ivo now.

FWIW it was pronounced I-vo

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 04/12/2021 16:43

I don't know any Otto's OR Ivo's personally (so for this reason I'd likely instinctively pronounce Ivo the "British" way - "Eye -vo" although I like "Ee- vo" too) but I seem to live in a very "safe" baby naming area in North Wales- the vast majority of the kids I've met/know have top 100 English or Welsh names (I have met a couple of older Ivor's though).

But if you look on Darkergreener which has the stats for the whole of England/Wales, Otto is much more steadily rising/"trendier" than Ivo (although both were bound to rise somewhat due to the popularity of other 2 syllable "o" ending names (Leo, Theo, Milo, Arlo etc)).

I still much prefer Ivo of the two - actually wish I liked Otto more as it is one of the few palindrome names for boys, which is kinda cool.

VenusClapTrap · 04/12/2021 11:27

I’m surprised to hear that Otto trendy! I only know one, who is nine.

ErrolTheDragon · 04/12/2021 10:18

The only Ottos I've know have been dogs. No Ivos.
The latter sounds like it's short for something, but is ok.

MrsSchadenfreude · 04/12/2021 10:11

Ivo I would pronounce “Eevo”. A Croatian friend of mine has an Ivo. Otto is one of my family names but not used, except for middle name, for at least two generations.

Edenember · 04/12/2021 10:05

I think Otto is having a bit of a moment, but I don’t know any where I’m from. Otis seems to be more popular here. I’d pronounce Ivo eye-vo, and I think most people would do the same based on the sound of similar names like Ivan, Ivor.

Original poster
Peaboddy · 04/12/2021 09:47

Thanks for all the opinions, it’s pretty divided by the sounds of it! My main concerns are that Ivo is unclear in terms of pronunciation (eye-vo vs ee-vo) and that Otto is a bit trendy at the moment. Love both names though.

Any thoughts on this? How many Ottos do you know? How would you pronounce Ivo?

OP posts:
Edenember · 04/12/2021 07:57

Much prefer Otto as long as you don’t live somewhere where the accent has a glottal stop (that’s what puts me off using names with a medial t where I’m from). Makes me think of Otto and Aurelia Plath, Sylvia’s parents. Ivo looks incomplete to me, much prefer Ivar.

FartnissEverbeans · 03/12/2021 21:22

I like them both! Fab names

user1471443411 · 03/12/2021 21:20

I prefer Ivo - think Otto sounds a bit too posh/try hard.

DramaAlpaca · 03/12/2021 21:17

@Sprig1

Otto. I think Ivo is ugly looking and sounds quite harsh.
I think exactly the opposite! Grin
VenusClapTrap · 03/12/2021 21:16

Otto. I just prefer the sound of it.