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Baby names

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

Original poster

Who is still naming their babies Oliver and Olivia?

231 replies

Algor1thm · 20/10/2022 22:07

Controversial... but really...

I work in a job where I meet lots of little kids and there are just so, so many. Half my friends are also married to or dating Ollies so it's not even limited to one generation. Does it being the top name for so long really not put people off?

I am aware that Oliver was recently knocked off the top spot, but still.

I'm also aware that this is going to be unpopular because approximately 50% of you probably have one yourself 😂

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NGCO · 22/10/2022 20:57

Just names my baby Olivia, but she gets called Livvy or liv. Only person that calls her Olivia is her dad hence the reason she's not actually name Livvy

Airymanning · 22/10/2022 20:56

I know quite a few Olivers.

Lilacsunflowers · 22/10/2022 19:19

Who cares if there are lots of children called Oliver and Olivia? The names won't age

Hmm, I'm not so sure Hmm

Acheyknees · 22/10/2022 18:29

The reason they are popular is because they are lovely classic names. Who cares if there are lots of children called Oliver and Olivia? The names won't age which can't be the same as the fashion for unique names or surnames used as first names.

NCforthisoneo · 22/10/2022 18:28

My kids both have fairly unusual (not top 100) names. However if I'd liked a top 10 name better, I'd have used that. Couldn't care less about popularity or the lack of it or people who think that being known as Olivia T or Olivia B at school is some sort of trauma.

Bluevelvetsofa · 22/10/2022 18:22

I don’t think that Oliver and Olivia date. There are adult Olivers, teenage Olivers and young Olivers.

I think they’re both lovely names.

LittleSisterLeavingTown · 22/10/2022 16:05

The Olive I once knew was a lady in her mid 90s. She had lived through both world wars. (RIP)

Lilacsunflowers · 22/10/2022 15:58

They are dull to you.
not in general.

I also find top 10 names like Oliver and Olivia very dull. From overuse - they've become so ubiquitous m.

Like Steve or Sharon in my generation.

Fireballxl5 · 22/10/2022 14:57

olivehater · 22/10/2022 14:54

I don’t know a single Oliver. I have theee kids and there is t a single Oliver in any of their classes. I don’t know where all these Oliver’s are.
know a million Olivia’s though!!!

A million?
Name them all. Doh!

olivehater · 22/10/2022 14:54

I don’t know a single Oliver. I have theee kids and there is t a single Oliver in any of their classes. I don’t know where all these Oliver’s are.
know a million Olivia’s though!!!

Rushingfool · 22/10/2022 14:54

Harry and Freddie are the new Olivers. Matilda/Tilly is fast becoming the new Olivia.

JessesMum777888 · 22/10/2022 14:53

sageandbasil · 22/10/2022 14:38

I know a few little Oliver's but not Olivia's any more. Such dull names now

They are dull to you.
not in general.

JessesMum777888 · 22/10/2022 14:52

Here in eldest school it’s lots of girls called Lacy Lexi Lilly Maisie , boys Tyler , Alfie .
Youngests more Oliver , Freddie , Mo , Alfie, Girls Olivia Amelia
this is just off the top of my head there’s a lot of savannahs , Alanahs .
all names the parents chose for their kids so I guess it their happy with them does it really matter?

FYI one of mine is in the top ten girls name For what seems like forever. The other 3 aren’t so much so I guess their not that popular

PremsDhaba · 22/10/2022 14:51

Oh and I was relentlessly bullied at school in the early 90's for having a weird name. How the tides turn.

PremsDhaba · 22/10/2022 14:49

I know several little Oliver's in my daughters school. I think there is maybe 5 in the whole school. I don't know any Olivia's. Tell a lie, I know one - me.

People use the names because they like them.

sageandbasil · 22/10/2022 14:38

I know a few little Oliver's but not Olivia's any more. Such dull names now

BiasedBinding · 22/10/2022 02:58

I think it’s really bizarre to assume that everyone should have the same naming criteria as you.

BiasedBinding · 22/10/2022 02:56

Lilacsunflowers · 21/10/2022 23:28

I have an unusual name and people can’t find me under the same circumstances because they can’t spell or pronounce it. What can you do

Choose an easy to spell name outside the top 100!

What happens if everyone does this Grin

why do you think everyone’s first port of call when naming their child should be to look at the top 100 names and exclude them all?

youcantry · 21/10/2022 23:40

My nephew is Ollie but he's 28 and my friends son is Ollie too and 25, I know a couple of others but they are all in that age group. No little ones.

I know a couple of Olivia's but my best friends daughter is always known as Livvy - she's 22. Again I didn't think it was popular anymore.

Lilacsunflowers · 21/10/2022 23:28

I have an unusual name and people can’t find me under the same circumstances because they can’t spell or pronounce it. What can you do

Choose an easy to spell name outside the top 100!

GroggyLegs · 21/10/2022 22:57

Newpuppymummy · 21/10/2022 11:39

My eldest daughters class had three Edwards and two Olivias.

my youngest had three Matthews, two Emmas and two Jennifers

Does your youngest go to primary school in 1984?!

Thats my class!

camperjam · 21/10/2022 22:10

I don't know any

BiasedBinding · 21/10/2022 21:50

Algor1thm · 21/10/2022 16:19

Interesting point about surnames - it's more of a disservice being Oliver Smith than Oliver (insert very unusual surname).

I agree with those who said names are identifiers. The entire point of naming a person is so that people can address you or talk about you to other people. If you're happy for your child to be Oliver B or 'tall Oliver' or go by a different nickname to the name you called them then I guess that's fine. My husband has a very common first name and he went by his surname only at uni because his best friend had the same name, and now he goes by initials always at work because there are 3 in his office.

He also finds it a huge disadvantage in his industry when networking etc. People can't even remember which of the 'Joes' (not his real name) they spoke to so they'll phone and ask for one and sometimes someone else will get his business.

I have an unusual name and people can’t find me under the same circumstances because they can’t spell or pronounce it. What can you do. I don’t think there is any right answer and trying to second guess it for your own child (and it is likely that you will be influenced by fashion to an extent) is probably impossible

oneuponedown · 21/10/2022 17:25

Whilst the ONS list is easy to understand yes, maybe people don't care about a name being popular? Have you considered that?

I have an Oliver. I also love the name Olivia but have one in the family. Both dc names are top 10, I knew that and it wasn't a consideration at all. We loved the name end of.

I have an uncommon name which is always spelt wrong and my surname, it's an absolute pain!

Natsku · 21/10/2022 17:13

Lilacsunflowers · 21/10/2022 16:58

My best friend in primary school was an Oliver. DS has an Oliver in his nursery class and I'm really hoping they become best friends so the tradition continues.

What a superficial reason for your son's choice of friendships Confused

🙄

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