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Baby names

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

Original poster

Is Oliver.... boring??

110 replies

blueberry23 · 12/01/2023 21:11

It is literally the ONLY name that DH and I remotely agree on for DS2.

Neither of us love it.

We have an Alfred which we love love loved.

I feel like we are settling for Oliver as we have nothing else rather than because we love it which makes me sad.

I do like it... just don't love it 😫😫

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CharitySchmarity · 30/01/2023 23:04

Although Oliver has been very fashionable for a long time, I still like it and don't find it boring. I guess I'm old enough to remember a time when it was quite rare. I think Ollie is a very friendly sounding name for a young boy and Oliver sounds quite dignified for an adult.

I think it I was looking for a boy's name to go with Alfred I might consider Edmund, which I like anyway, but I also like the fact that both names have Saxon roots, so they kind of "go together" in that way without sounding too alike.

Blendandmix · 28/01/2023 09:35

Alfred and Oliver are lovely together but I really don't like Oliver on its own

Billslills · 28/01/2023 09:32

I think Alfred and Oliver go together nicely but if neither of you love it then it isn't the right name. How about...

Alfred and Rudy
Alfred and Otto
Alfred and Ralph
Alfred and Leonard (Lenny)

Justaponder · 13/01/2023 20:20

To add - if I was the only person choosing my children's names, neither of them would be called what they are! However, both of us liking a name was far more important than just one of us loving a name and the other being unsure. I hope that makes sense x

Justaponder · 13/01/2023 20:13

Personally I adore it, but I think that name preferences often have a lot to do with association. I am very fond of a couple of Oliver's (one being my son!) so for me the name has a positive association. Lovely classic name that sounds nice out loud to my ears. I also like the nn Ollie. There might be a few Oliver's kicking about, but only one will be your Oliver!
Names are funny things though and you can't (and shouldn't) please everyone...
I love the name Felix, but I know that for a lot of people they immediately think 'cat', lol.
Ultimately you need to please yourself, so if Oliver isn't sitting quite right I would suggest you keep searching. Congratulations and good luck finding a name x

larry520 · 13/01/2023 19:35

I've taught for 12 years and never had an Oliver in my primary class, north of London. They must be concentrated somewhere, but I don't know where, only one in my extended friendship groups and that's in Wales.

RambamThankyouMam · 13/01/2023 18:51

Dreadful name. All I see is "liver". It's popularity is a mystery to me.

choochooandspook · 13/01/2023 17:15

I think oliver is lovely

RuthW · 13/01/2023 17:07

Sorry wrong post - that was the last three babies I have heard of!

RuthW · 13/01/2023 17:06

Carson
Luca
Lucia

purpledalmation · 13/01/2023 15:52

Rejected by us as there were dozens around us.

Nugget478 · 13/01/2023 15:39

Edgar goes nicely with Alfred!

Winston
Edmund
Oscar
Stanley

Masterofcats · 13/01/2023 12:46

Oliver is a really nice sounding classic name. It's popular for that reason.Will fit in anywhere and seems solid, has nice meanings with olives. the olive branch of peace etc . Has shortenings and works internationally so an all round good name.
I personally like it and the Oliver's I know all seem really nice boys.
But if you don't love it don't use it.
Keep looking for a name that you do like.

Purplemagnolias · 13/01/2023 12:27

Oliver is overused and will date badly.

Ollie sounds frumpy and twee at the same time, I don't like it at all.

There are SO many great underused classic names, that are much nicer and more memorable, to choose from - have a look at the ons lists of ALL boys names used last year. Lots of great names used about 30-50 times per year (as opposed to 5000 times).

hollyjolls · 13/01/2023 12:24

Yes, painfully boring.

RuthW · 13/01/2023 12:18

Very, yes

17caterpillars1mouse · 13/01/2023 11:05

It is a bit overdone. TBF though I quite like Oliver, it's Ollie that i find overdone. Ollie is very boring now. Oliver is still quite nice, but he probably won't the the only one in his class at school, if that bothers you.

RedToothBrush · 13/01/2023 10:10

Penguinsaregreat · 13/01/2023 07:17

I’d use it. It’s classic and timeless.
I suppose it’s boring in the same way wearing a black dress is boring or wearing jeans and converse is boring. Wearing striped, multi couloured clothes and dying your hair pink is regarded as not boring. That’s how I see it. That sort of comparison.

Oliver will date terribly. It's far from Timeless for that reason. It will be the name from this era. It's a classic name that a generation has latched on to. It will die a slow death and then not be used for about a century.

RedToothBrush · 13/01/2023 10:06

Yes

And it's ugly and clunky.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 13/01/2023 10:01

*3 in his class at primary school not in the whole school.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 13/01/2023 10:01

DS is an Oliver but only ever uses Oli to the point that Oliver doesn’t really feel like his name. He suits it down to the ground but he was one of 3 at his primary school and one of 3 now again in his form at high school.

MintyPrincess · 13/01/2023 09:47

Yes

midsomermurderess · 13/01/2023 09:45

It’s not boring, it’s a perfectly nice, albeit very popular, name.

sponsabillaries · 13/01/2023 09:26

If I may, @blueberry23, I think you are asking the wrong question. It doesn't really matter if MNers think Oliver is boring. The question is, does it matter if you settle on a name that you have lukewarm feelings for when you love love loved the name you chose for DS1? I think it does and you need to keep looking, at the very least for something that one of you loves and the other can live with.

sixtiesbaby88 · 13/01/2023 08:06

Gregory is a good name!
Edward/ Edmund/ Edwin/ Eddie/Ned
George
James
Henry
Jeremy /Jem

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