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Baby names

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

Original poster

Olivia or Julian??

58 replies

charliebug · 19/02/2009 03:10

what do you think? Not sure what we are having yet but would like to have a few names picked out. Thanks

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Thunderduck · 19/02/2009 16:36

Both are great names.

Sidge · 19/02/2009 16:14

Olivia is lovely but must be popular/common depending on where you live - there are none in DD3s nursery or in DD2s reception class!

Not keen on Julian, but I do love Benedict, Gregory and Jonathan.

toomuchmonthatendofthemoney · 19/02/2009 16:11

Julian too poncey and silly. Camp cravat wearing antique dealers name imo.

Olivia is ok but getting very popular. I like the shortening Livvy for a little girl tho.

LuLuBai · 19/02/2009 16:00

Ah see I quite like Jolyon too but I think it is slighly higher up the ponceometor than Julian (not that that would really bother me)

angrypixie · 19/02/2009 15:30

I know a Jolyon also Forsythe Saga I think. A bit cooler than prissy old Julian.

JemL · 19/02/2009 14:03

Agree, Julian reminds me of Famous Five - always annoyingly reasonable, trustworthy, sensible, even to the point of being allowed to cart pre-teen relatives across the countryside sleeping in barns, solving crimes, and being jolly fair minded.

I actually prefer Olive to Olivia! But probably because I watched Little Miss Sunshine the other night

randomname · 19/02/2009 14:00

DS2 was going to be Livia notat all common + can shorten etc if you like

paolosgirl · 19/02/2009 13:11

Love Olivia - so what if it's popular?

Don't like Julian at all, but that's probably because I know one and he's a bit pompous. It does remind me of the Famous Five - a bit twee.

MadBadandDangerousToKnow · 19/02/2009 13:08

Olivia is a very pretty name but there are zillions of them around here.

I once had a delightful woman colleague called Julian but the only male Julian I know is deeply irritating and so (illogically, I know) that puts me off the name!

FrizzBath · 19/02/2009 13:03

I have only known drippy Julians - many shorten their names to Jules/Jools which is too girly for me!

audley · 19/02/2009 12:44

My step dad's a Julian, he calls himself Chris!

PollyGarter · 19/02/2009 11:57

julius is great... julian makes me think of 80's wall street - don't know why.
olivia is lovely, but everywhere atm

JanuarySnail · 19/02/2009 11:42

Oh Julius even better.

JanuarySnail · 19/02/2009 11:41

Julian is great. Unusual these days. Olivia very pretty but not unusual at all.

hoppybird · 19/02/2009 11:32

My dad's name was Julius, but he was called Julian by some people - it sounds fine on an adult. I don't know any young Julians, though. And shhh! about Julia - I have one and I'd rather the name stayed few and far between!

Olivia is a nice name, and very popular around here too.

CantSleepWontSleep · 19/02/2009 11:12

I like Julian! We considered it for ds.

I like Olivia too, but its popularity would put me off.

Wigglesworth · 19/02/2009 11:03

Julian is just awful, very poncey. Olivia is nice but not my cup of tea, it's way too popular too.

sassy · 19/02/2009 10:54

Agree with Julia/Juliet suggestions.

sassy · 19/02/2009 10:53

Julian makes me think of Famous Five. Bit bossy, pompous. Prob has a stamp collection and a watches trains.

Olivia - pretty, but massively over-used.

Twims · 19/02/2009 10:52

Julia is lovely for a little girl/grown up.

supergluebum · 19/02/2009 10:50

How about Jolian? It's classic and very unusual. Boys name by the way. or Jaime for a girl?
Oliver is nice but popular. Prefer Owen or Euan.

Tommy · 19/02/2009 10:44

Olivia used to be posh but is now very common

Julian sounds posh and I think is a bit poncey

Agree that Juliet/a and Oliver are better although there are loads of little Olivers round here too

Dropdeadfred · 19/02/2009 10:37

i have an olivia...nut i never knew how popular it was, there's not been a single day out where we haven't heard at least one other little girl being called it..
i actually thought it was rare at the time!!

gladders · 19/02/2009 10:25

Julian - no. its dh's middle name and he's always been v embarrassed by it. It's just not very masculine really....

think the suggestion of oliver and julia/juliette is a good one - defintiely prefer that combo

2pt4kids · 19/02/2009 09:16

Julian is a name that gives me the creeps, cant explain why, it just sounds yuck!

Olivia is very pretty, gorgeous name.

How about Juliet for a girl?