Livia?

[Emo76]

DD2 due next week and we are still struggling with names. Love Isabelle but have cancelled it out due to extreme popularity and myraid of spellings. Like Miranda but husband has vetoed. Have decided Cecily is a bit too "fluffy" for us.

He has suggested Livia - my first reaction was "you mean Olivia?" and I am guessing if we used it then DD2 may well get that reaction too! It's from Roman times. I like it and could be shortened to Liv which I like too.

I wondered what other people thought.

Yes, with Olivia the #1 name and Livia almost unheard of, I think almost everybody will hear it as Olivia or think it's short for Olivia.

I do like Liv - and actually, Liv is a name in its own right (Scandinavian) - Liv Tyler is just a Liv. Again, it has the Olivia problem though, so you may as well go with Livia if you like it.

very nice, but slightly reminds me of the Borgias? but very pretty

Love it

Absolutely beautiful. Liv is a fab nickname.

Go for it!

I like Liv a lot, but as a full name....Livia has all sorts of unfortunate historical connections, especially as a particularly slutty and unpleasant Roman....

I wouldn't, it is the name of a spectacularly nasty roman empress/queen, that would put me off. You may as well call a baby Caligula.

I don't like the historical connections at all.

To "normal" people who aren't overly interested in Roman history it will just look like you are trying to be different with Olivia.

So I wouldn't.

@ baby Caligula.

getorf yes yes, except apparently she's "much maligned", there's a book out saying it was all made up

i just googled it to see if my memory served me right

anyhoo nobody's going to know she was "much maligned" and the nasty version was on the telly so.. yes the association is there

I love it. I know a little italian girl called Livia, she does get called Olivia most of the time so as long as you don't mind that happening I would go for it.

I like it. I also really like Lydia. Livia might be confused with Olivia, which wouldn't be a big deal, just mentioning it.

oooh yes, Livia! The wonderful machiavellian anti heroine of I Claudius!

I think most people who know the book and tv series know that there were massive creative liberties with character.

Great name!
You'll get the:
"Olivia?"
"NO, Livia".

But worth it.

Thanks everyone - I hadn't realised the historical connotations were quite so bad! I like Liv too though. aaagh this baby naming business is tricky!!

What about Vivienne/Vivian? Could have Viv for a nickname.

I have a friend with a Livia coming around any minute now. I was a bit at first and assumed she'd just missed the 'O' off the text, but it is lovely and unusual.

It will be annoying constantly going 'no, Livia' but then I have one of the most common names in the western world and still have to spell it every time someone needs to write it down.

Love it. Liv is fab too. Nobody will think of any historical connection. Most people couldn't pick Winston Churchill out of a lineup.

Flavia might be another option?

Flavia for some reason makes me think of labia.

But that may just be me being strange.

Sounds like someone who didn't annunciate saying Olivia - really don't like ir.

Love Liv. Like Flavia.

Livia too close to 'Livial' = brand of HRT, sorry!

Livia is lovely. Much nicer than Olivia, imo. Liv is great. I would consider it if Ihad another DD.

I know someone with a Livi. Not short for anything.

Surely people will say "olivia?" then "Lydia?" which might get annoying. personally I love the name Lydia and it has classical connotations too. If you specifically want a roman name what about lucia/lucilla, aurelia, portia or julia?

Lovely name.

Another possible: Lilia/Lillia?

We aren't aiming for a roman name specifically, but thanks for the other suggestions. Don't want to set daughter up to continuously have to spell her name out (no, it's not Olivia etc) but still quite like it. Thanks for all the replies - much appreciated, it's good to get a balanced view!

I love Livia. It is a shame that people are likely to assume "Olivia?"

Livia is a beautiful, strong name! I don't think many people will know their Roman history but a lot will mis-hear it for Olivia, which might proof annoying.

Strangely, we have a little Cecily who came close to being a Livia and DD1's mn is Isabel!
Miranda is also lovely :)

What is you DD1 called (only if you want to say)?