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Baby names

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

Original poster

Olive as a boys name?

118 replies

Gypsophiladaisy · 11/04/2022 12:30

I really love Olive as a boys name as a twist on Oliver thta I also like but is far too popular for me to ever use. However, I am aware its wayyyy more common as a girls name. Even though I have only ever heard of girls with this name, it sounds far more unisex to me and I would love to use it but wouldn't want negative reactions to it. Its so annoying that boys names can be used for girls but not the other way round!

I'm not sure why I like it so much (and I prefer it as a boys name than a girls name), but here are other names I like in case anyone has alternatives of suggestions for both boys and girls that would suit my style!

Eliza, Florence, Lottie, Tilliah, Grace (love the nickname grey for b+gs)
Greyson, Olive, Ezra

Thank you!!!

OP posts:
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LouisRenault · 11/04/2022 13:45

Aside from the teasing, he will probably have a life of correcting people who assume it should be Oliver and that the R has been missed off the end somehow

Or people who have misread and think it's Clive.

tearinghairout · 11/04/2022 13:44

I immediately thought of A Boy Named Sue, too. And in the last line, the singer is saying don't, whatever you do, give your boy a girl's name. I agree. Olive? Sure, it sounds as if it should be unisex, but it isn't.

GettingItOutThere · 11/04/2022 13:40

don't be so cruel. Olive is not a boys name! hard enough being a kid anyhow without a stupid name to saddle through life

like the person on here who called her kid Haven. Bloody mental

Bloomingdelightful · 11/04/2022 13:37

Stupid

Tyrozet · 11/04/2022 13:37

@BuanoKubiamVej

Olive is definitely a "girl's" name culturally. I don't think it's kind to give it to a boy.

How about Olaf which is pronounced very similarly and is firmly a male name.

Olaf - also the name of a very popular animated snowman, which may not go down well either!
RedRec · 11/04/2022 13:36

Don't think I have ever commented on ludicrous baby name threads but will make an exception here:
You are off your fucking head.

confusedttraveller · 11/04/2022 13:35

I normally love unusual names and second not choosing something that is commonly used. However I do feel Olive for a boy feels too too odd. It really is a very well known girls name and would be like naming a boy Rose.

Macaroni46 · 11/04/2022 13:34

Absolutely not. Bad enough for a girl in my opinion but dreadful for a boy!

GeminiTwin · 11/04/2022 13:31

I actually like Tilliah but any names like that with the 'H' on the end just look made up.

Tillia is much better.

Olive we a boys name, absolutely not. Poor kid will get bullied.

Oliver, Ollie, Olen, Oren.

Please not olive.

BuanoKubiamVej · 11/04/2022 13:31

Olive is definitely a "girl's" name culturally. I don't think it's kind to give it to a boy.

How about Olaf which is pronounced very similarly and is firmly a male name.

midsomermurderess · 11/04/2022 13:31

@Bobbins36

Ludicrous. Don't lumber your kid with this please. And is Tilliah even a name?
Yes, it would appear to be. A girls' name.
Bellyups · 11/04/2022 13:29

@Whose

Perhaps instead spend some time evaluating why unusual and anti establishment names are appealing to you so much, and them look at other ways of challenging the system that won't negatively impact your son?
Also, what @Whose said
Bellyups · 11/04/2022 13:29

Olive? For a boy? Don’t be so bloody cruel.
What is it with parents using their children as ways of pushing boundaries these days Confused

FayCarew · 11/04/2022 13:26

Tilliah- just call here Attila and be done with it

(love the nickname grey for b+gs) - Grey. really? The most boring colour ever

Greyson - can't get past 'Shut that door!'
Olive - have you considered Prune?
Ezra - not keen at all

Whose · 11/04/2022 13:26

Perhaps instead spend some time evaluating why unusual and anti establishment names are appealing to you so much, and them look at other ways of challenging the system that won't negatively impact your son?

CoddledAsAMommet · 11/04/2022 13:16

Obviously you can't use Olive for a boy.

How about Tirzah for a girl? Your list made me think of this as an option immediately. Beautiful, fun and with a good history and an actual name!

MsTSwift · 11/04/2022 13:12

The message of the song is give your son a girls name and he will become a violent fighter and able to defend himself. He will ultimately beat you up for giving him the name. Not usually the aim of a parent in 2022!

Festivalpartygirl · 11/04/2022 13:12

You could call him Olive or Oliver, Either and he will become an Olly, by his peers and his choice probably, be kind, don’t use Olive - poor kid.

notangelinajolie · 11/04/2022 13:12

OP, Olive is a bit more than wayyyy more common as a girl's name because it IS a girl's name Grin
Don't do it.

FelicityPike · 11/04/2022 13:12

Oh for goodness sake no. That’s like that poor wee girl called Richard I once saw on TikTok!!

MsTSwift · 11/04/2022 13:11

I thought of A Boy Named Sue too 😁. Dd2 used to be weirdly obsessed with that song !

Iwonder08 · 11/04/2022 13:08

That is one way to ensure the boy will have a hard life. Why would you do that to your own child? If he is male, don't give him a female name

TenoringBehind · 11/04/2022 13:08

Cruel.

LittleRedRidingHood187 · 11/04/2022 13:06

If you want your child to be bullied throughout school go right ahead

99/100 name threads on here are people asking about stupid names. It seems to be a competition on who can have the most ridiculous name nowadays

Oldandcobwebby · 11/04/2022 13:06

No. No. No. You are setting the poor kid up for a lifetime of bullying and misery.

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