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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Sad that DHhas rejected my favourite girl name

28 replies

girlfromdownsouth · 09/02/2011 13:26

We wanted to honour DH's nan who we were all very close to (passed away 1yr ago) but her name is Olive which I don't really like. Thought we could use it as a second name but then had a brainwave that if we have DD she could be called Olivia.

Well....!!! DH rejected it out of hand, said it was a stupid name and wasn't it foreign?? (BTW I was not born in the UK so tried not to take offence)!! hee hee

Am sad because I thought it is a lovely name and would be a lovely way of honouring Nan without actually using the name Olive.

Any suggestions incorporating Olive somehow. I like traditional, pretty names.

OP posts:

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WorzselMummage · 09/02/2011 13:27

I think olive is lovely !

PaperView · 09/02/2011 13:31

Olive as middle name?

DH doesn't like Olivia either but we have an Oliver go figure!

onimolap · 09/02/2011 13:32

It sounds as if he's being a bit strange!

If you think he might be persuadable, you could try pointing out that Olivia has been in use in Britain since the Middle Ages, and that Shakespeare used it in Twelfth Night.

You could try the Scout/Guide movement approach and go for Olave (like Baden-Powell), or Oliva/Olava (but those two sound exactly like Oliver, so perhaps wouldn't be fair).

The only other "Ol.." names I can think of at the moment are Olga and Olympe.

Kaz62 · 09/02/2011 13:33

i think that Olive's lovely, one note on Olivia apparently it is the top name at the moment so she might share her name with lots of others!

BlueChampagne · 09/02/2011 13:45

Drop the O and have Livia? Agree with Onimolap that your DH is being a bit strange.

Did she have any other names?

wigglesrock · 09/02/2011 13:48

I have an Olivia, its been top name for about 2 years now, but we haven't met that many, Amelia's on the other hand

When are you due? I picked a boys name that my dh wasn't keen on, I said ok if you can think of something I like more fire away, he hasn't!! He then started to warm up a little on it, and announced two days ago he now really liked the name, I'm due next week so its a done deal, apart from the possiblity of this baby being a girl

Glamour · 09/02/2011 13:48

i like olive! baby olive! i think thats lovely!

MelinaM · 09/02/2011 13:51

I actually prefer Olive to Olivia, Olivia is extremely popular at the moment whereas Olive is quite rare x

Hedwig3 · 09/02/2011 13:54

I love Olive but not Olivia!

Original poster

girlfromdownsouth · 09/02/2011 13:57

Hubby isn't keen because Olivia is one of the most popular names. Have 2 others (Charlie & Emily) and they have proven to be very popular. They both have 2 other same name children in their class alone! Think that's what he's not keen on.

wigglesrock Baby is due in July so plenty of time to think about it. Also it may be a boy.....

Glad Olive is proving to be not as old fashioned as I thought. paperview I was thinking more along the lines of Olive as middle name, just have to come up with a first name that goes with Olive and doesn't produce strange initials. Surname begins with a W.

OP posts:

BlueChampagne · 09/02/2011 13:59

Similar here, Wiggle. DH suggested a name for DS2 and my first response was 'maybe as a middle name'. Roll on a few months, I come round to it, and it becomes his first name.

QuestionNumber · 09/02/2011 14:04

Could you honour this relative by using a related name, such as another tree/plant name? E.g. Hazel, Amber, Daphne, Lina, Holly.

Original poster

girlfromdownsouth · 09/02/2011 14:24

QuestionNumber, no if it's not her exact name or something very similar so you can see where it has come from, I don't see the point. However thanks for the suggestions as I love plant names. DD's second name is Rose and DP is a landscape gardener so very keen on "plant-based" names.

OP posts:

AllieW · 09/02/2011 15:01

So probably best to avoid C or P names with OW as latter initials.... I would think, in fact, that another vowel would probably be the best bet, since that definitely doesn't spell anything! Possible thoughts (if you don't mind suggestions):

Amabel Olive W.
Anastasia Olive W.
Arabella Olive W.
Imelda Olive W.
Iris Olive W.

Given what you've said about plant names, I should think that Iris Olive W. would be your best bet from those options. Charlie, Emily & Iris makes a charming sib-set, I think, too.

onimolap · 09/02/2011 15:23

I would say avoid: B, C, H, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V and W! With caution: D, I.

What sort of names do you and DH like?

QuestionNumber · 09/02/2011 16:00

Hmmm, well there are a few more variations on the name Olivia but you may feel they're too unusual... e.g. Liv, Livia, Olivetta, Olivette, Olivija, Olivine, Ollie and Olva.

SilkStalkings · 09/02/2011 16:10

Did Nan have a middle name?

piglet75 · 09/02/2011 18:00

Orla is nice & quite similar to Olive?!

Fimbo · 09/02/2011 18:03

I like Livvy.

LaydeeC · 09/02/2011 18:07

My dtr has Olivia for exactly the same reasons but not as a first name. Not overly keen on either Olivia or Olive but definitely prefer the former!
Whilst I'm not particularly keen, it is inoffensive and I conceded. Not sure why your dh won't consider it (at least as a middle name).

BikeRunSki · 09/02/2011 18:09

Change 2 letters in Olive and have Alice?

QuestionNumber · 09/02/2011 18:22

If the name is for you to pay a tribute to this lady then this will be a lovely thought whether or not others "get it", if the name isn't quite so similar to Olivia.

NadiaWadia · 09/02/2011 18:38

Olivia is lovely. Tell your DH he has no taste!

SoupDragon · 09/02/2011 18:42

DD has 2 middle names, one for each of her maternal grandmothers. My mum's mum hated her first name so I used her middle name instead - is this an option?

muminthemiddle · 10/02/2011 00:38

I find it strange your dh disliking Olivia so much after all it is not wierd or a bizzare name.

I personally love Olivia and think it is more classic than OlivE. Perhaps he will come round eventually.

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