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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Oliver or Jack?

40 replies

beaditAli · 02/09/2010 15:15

I know both are top of the names lists but they really are the only two we both love and agree on. I only know one Jack and he's nearly 10 now however, I know so many baby Olivers. Just wondering what opinions anyone has.....
I have a feeling Oliver is more popular nowadays than Jack......??? Help DD is a week on Tuesday!

OP posts:

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Monkeytoo · 03/09/2010 03:39

I have an Oliver Richard James but live in the US (moving back soon though so glad it's not Olivers all over the place as I was worrying it was!). We were going to call him Oliver James but here it would result in him being called OJ hence putting the Richard in the middle (Dad's name).

Love Jack too!

Monkeytoo · 03/09/2010 03:40

Also forgot to say - I think traditional names are nice for boys anyway. Like if you meet a James you don't think 'wow that's such a common name' really do you? Well I don't anyway :)

tammytoby · 03/09/2010 10:38

Very popular round here. Yes, they are nice names but they are very very common. Some people are more bothered than others. I would be, because I hated being one of 3 in my class and because my name 'dates' me to the 1970s.

zozzle · 03/09/2010 12:16

Love Jack

kveta · 03/09/2010 12:28

love Oliver :)

popularity depends where you are in the country - Jack more popular in the north apparently, Oliver in the South East. We have an Oli in the south east, and it's incredibly common here - but he could not have been any other name when he was born!!

VirginOnTheRidiculous · 03/09/2010 12:29

They're the name equivalents of stripped floorboards, off white walls and a feature wall. Yes it looks very nice, but dear God have some imagination.

But you don't mind the popularity, so just choose a name you like.

FWIW, dd's name is quite popular and becoming more so, but I picked it out as a small child and so I care not.

tammytoby · 03/09/2010 14:44

"They're the name equivalents of stripped floorboards, off white walls and a feature wall. Yes it looks very nice, but dear God have some imagination."

Well said .

shoobidoo · 03/09/2010 14:54

Jack and Oliver will be the Steve and Mikes of today in 30 years time.

Monkeytoo · 04/09/2010 04:13

'Dear god have some imagination' - I love it. I'm promptly changing Ollie's name to Boeing Roiboosh. Also I'm busy putting the artex ceilings back up in my house as they're bound to come back in in a couple of decades and I'll be suitably imaginative now :)

Original poster

beaditAli · 04/09/2010 13:27

Have some imagination!..... Well if only the unusual boys names around weren't so ridiculous it would be a lot easier! Girls are definitely easier. Also, who knows what will popular in 10 years. I'll bet there are more Finlays and Sams than Olivers.

OP posts:

Jazmyn · 04/09/2010 13:28

I have a Jack too.... love both names :-)

shoobidoo · 04/09/2010 14:56

"Well if only the unusual boys names around weren't so ridiculous it would be a lot easier"

Isn't there a middle ground between a top 10 name like Oliver and Jack (in 2008 alone over 8000 babies were named Jack!!) and a classic, proper name. Have a look at the ONS lists which list all the names given in a year - I'm sure you'll find plenty of lovely boys' names which aren't ridiculous.

shoobidoo · 04/09/2010 14:57

And Boeing is probably not a name on that list .

weepootle · 04/09/2010 15:00

Love both and care not about their popularity. Dd has only 1 Oliver and 1 Jack in her whole school. Oliver is my favourite.

Tortoise · 04/09/2010 15:02

I have a 13yr old Oliver.
And DS2's middle name is Alexander!

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