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Baby names

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

Oliver VS Miles

62 replies

megadreamer8 · 30/05/2024 01:42

Me and my partner are pretty set on Oliver. Loved the musical since being a young child. It flows nicely. BUT I do get slightly put off that it's so popular. Despite not knowing many Oliver's at all.

Miles is a more recent name that I suggested and my partner said yes, and he mentioned that it will probably become more popular because of Spiderman.

I told my dad and he said he doesn't like Miles so that has put me off a bit.

What do you think sounds better?

Oliver Thomas (middle name Thomas after my granddad)

Miles Oliver or Miles Thomas

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Toddlerteaplease · 30/05/2024 15:47

Oliver Miles sounds nice.

megadreamer8 · 30/05/2024 15:44

CountingCrones · 30/05/2024 14:41

Miles

Probably because I know six Olivers and am a bit over it as a name. (it doesn't help that two of them were little sods, and you know how associations tarnish names)

I get what you mean and I hate when that happens to a perfectly good name.
To me though, Oliver sounds classic and romantic. I love fiction and Oliver is always an interesting character.

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CountingCrones · 30/05/2024 14:41

Miles

Probably because I know six Olivers and am a bit over it as a name. (it doesn't help that two of them were little sods, and you know how associations tarnish names)

Notreat · 30/05/2024 14:40

novocaine4thesoul · 30/05/2024 02:02

Both are lovely, but given you are all agreed on Oliver Thomas, go for that, every one is happy. It is a nice name

In my opinión Oliver is a much nicer names. For some reason i really dislike the name Miles .
But that's just my taste people are different. So just go with the one you prefer. There is nothing wrong with either name.

megadreamer8 · 30/05/2024 14:36

zingally · 30/05/2024 14:19

I like them both.

I'm a primary school teacher, and although I do meet quite a few Olivers (I can't remember when I last met a Miles though), they'd probably be the only one in their class.
With Oliver though, you have to be happy with the nickname Ollie/Olly, as he'll undoubtedly at least go through a period of Ollie.

Yeah! I don't mind Ollie, it's quite a chilled out cool Nickname. There's definitely worse out there.

I just love how Oliver flows. I've loved it for years and I didn't really know any growing up, I knew of one boy younger than me called it. Bit gutted it's become so popular though.

OP posts:
zingally · 30/05/2024 14:19

I like them both.

I'm a primary school teacher, and although I do meet quite a few Olivers (I can't remember when I last met a Miles though), they'd probably be the only one in their class.
With Oliver though, you have to be happy with the nickname Ollie/Olly, as he'll undoubtedly at least go through a period of Ollie.

megadreamer8 · 30/05/2024 14:11

BobbyBiscuits · 30/05/2024 13:35

@megadreamer8 haha, it's my granddad's name, lol. Thank you!
I would use it, but of course you should use a family name. Oliver goes with loads of other names really, doesn't it?

Ah that makes sense why you suggested it.

I feel like Oliver Thomas flows quite nicely
There is Oliver Stephen and Oliver David as options too

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 30/05/2024 13:35

@megadreamer8 haha, it's my granddad's name, lol. Thank you!
I would use it, but of course you should use a family name. Oliver goes with loads of other names really, doesn't it?

megadreamer8 · 30/05/2024 13:14

BobbyBiscuits · 30/05/2024 10:51

Not mad on Miles sadly. Oliver is nice though. I think the middle name Sam or Samuel goes nice with Oliver? Probably not on your radar at all though?!

Thank you. Tbh I'd prefer to use family names for middle names but nice suggestion! :)

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megadreamer8 · 30/05/2024 13:10

midlifepisces · 30/05/2024 07:13

Oliver is miles better

Hahahhahaa touché 🤣🤣

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BobbyBiscuits · 30/05/2024 10:51

Not mad on Miles sadly. Oliver is nice though. I think the middle name Sam or Samuel goes nice with Oliver? Probably not on your radar at all though?!

Bumbleoranhe · 30/05/2024 10:06

I love Miles, so would go for that. However I think you should go with Oliver as it’s been your long term favourite.
In terms of popularity Oliver much more so than Miles currently, however it does seem that Miles is on an upward trend and could become the more popular name in the future. So I wouldn’t base your decision solely on popularity.

WaltzingWaters · 30/05/2024 09:13

Much prefer Oliver/Ollie, not a fan of Miles.

Popularity wise- I only know one Oliver who is in his 30’s, not met any children called Oliver. I know of 3 children called Miles.

Fontainebleau007 · 30/05/2024 09:12

Oliver :)

Emeraldsrock · 30/05/2024 09:09

Oliver makes me think of rugger types shouting Oli in a string southern accent!
I prefer Myles ( think it’s nicer with a y but Miles is ok) and think it’s goes nicely with your surname.

OopsieeDaisy · 30/05/2024 09:09

Oliver Thomas is lovely.

NetMum2 · 30/05/2024 09:09

Oliver! Just over 1% of boys were given that name in 2022 - it may be in the top 5 but I wouldn’t say 1% is TOO popular…

MinPinSins · 30/05/2024 09:06

I'd go with Miles. Oliver is just too popular in my opinion. It was number one for years, and even in 2022, having slightly fell out of fashion, one in 84 boy babies were called Oliver.

Miles is rising, but still outside the 100. I don't think the Spiderman connection will make that much of a difference either.

It's not your dad's baby, so ignore him.

Revelatio · 30/05/2024 09:01

In my area Miles seems to be more popular than Oliver, so I definitely wouldn’t change it for popularity reasons! Both are nice names, I would stick to the one you are all agreed on.

BoleynMemories13 · 30/05/2024 08:59

Definitely go with the one you've loved for ages. You love it for a reason, and it's popular for a reason.

Any name can be duplicated and, given that Miles is up and coming, it could definitely be duplicated too. I think you'll probably be more disappointed if you went for it to avoid a popular name and then that happened anyway. At least you'd be half expecting it with Oliver.

Sounds like Oliver has meaning to you too, which is great. To me, Miles is just a measurement. I find it incredibly dull as a name. Probably because the only one I know is an incredibly dull middle aged man (think tweed jackets) so that's my only point of reference. Oliver is definitely preferable.

Choccyoclocky · 30/05/2024 08:52

I vote Oliver, it flows much nicer.

My DS is an Oliver and during primary school there was never another Oliver there! He is in high school now but still goes by Oliver, he just doesn't suit or like being called Ollie.

KirstenBlest · 30/05/2024 08:30

Oliver.
I like both but I dislike the Myles spelling, which Miles may get at times.
Miles Thomas doesn't flow very well.

Inlimboin50s · 30/05/2024 07:41

I have a Miles who is a teen now. Lovely name!

midlifepisces · 30/05/2024 07:13

Oliver is miles better

SilverBranchGoldenPears · 30/05/2024 06:54

Oliver Thomas. Miles gives me the heebeegeebees! Makes me think of awful characters on US soap operas