Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

thoughts please on Liv?

27 replies

PorkusEnormous · 25/11/2012 18:56

As in, Liv Tyler. Liv. Not short for Olivia.

I do like the nickname Livi, but is this what all Olivia's get called these days? There are a lot of Olivia's out there so does this mean a Liv/Livi would actually blend in with all the Olivia's?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
NatashaBee · 25/11/2012 18:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaryAstor · 25/11/2012 19:02

Liv is a standalone name but is Norwegian and is pronouned 'Leave'.

Liv pronounced phonetically is a nickname for Olvia or Livia. Everyone will assume it is a nickname for these, of course they will. And yes, there are a lot of those around so she will "blend in".

Liv Tyler has simply 'Liv' on her birth certificate, but some celebrity model naming her child some diminutive does not validate as a real name, imo.

TheOriginalNutcracker · 25/11/2012 19:04

Hmm i think most people would assume that it is Olivia.

We know several and they are all called Liv or Livvy most of the time.

exoticfruits · 25/11/2012 19:07

Everyone will assume it is Olivia. I can't see why you wouldn't put Olivia on the birth certificate and give her more options when older. Personally I would hate a lifetime of saying 'no it is just Liv, not Olivia'.

PorkusEnormous · 25/11/2012 19:07

MaryAstor...Norwegians also pronounce 'Olivia' as 'Oh-leev-ia'. I'm English so I pronounce their 'leev' as 'liv'.

OP posts:
PorkusEnormous · 25/11/2012 19:11

Liv Tyler was not named as a diminutive of Livia/Olivia. She was named after Liv Ullman a Norwegian actress.

The name Amelie is french and pronounced Am-AY-lee but I'm pretty sure everyone in England pronounces their DD's with that name as Am-eh-lee, because they're English?

OP posts:
SamSmalaidh · 25/11/2012 19:12

I know a (not Norwegian, but mixed European) Liv - some people pronounce it Leev and some as Liv, a bit like Lora/Lowra for Laura I suppose.

AlmostAHipster · 25/11/2012 19:14

I have very good reasons for loving this name - I chose it for my youngest. I think it's elegant and classy. It means 'life'.

When she meets new people, she sometimes gets asked if it's short for Olivia - it takes two seconds to say no and then the conversation moves on. It's no big deal.

I really don't think my child 'blends in' but I suppose I would say that, wouldn't I?

best nc now as I've totally outed myself

MaryAstor · 25/11/2012 19:16

Well, do you want, obviously. But how Norwegians pronounce Olvia is neither here nor there, really.

Liv is a Norwegian name and you will be pronouncing it incorrectly if you say it phonetically.

If you were French and called your daughter 'Sarah' but insisted that it was pronounced "Zerra", because that's how it works in your mother-tongue, then that's up to you, isn't it? It doesn't mean that 'Zerra' is a correct pronounciation.

SamSmalaidh · 25/11/2012 19:17

I think Sarah in a French accent is the correct pronunciation if you are French!

AlmostAHipster · 25/11/2012 19:18

My daughter's name is pronounced phonetically and I care not a jot. So ner Grin

MaryAstor · 25/11/2012 19:20

Liv Ullman pronounces her name 'Leev'. So Liv Tyler prounces her name incorrectly, then, if she is named after her. Not that it's ether here nor there, really.

PorkusEnormous · 25/11/2012 19:21

How Norwegians pronounce Olivia is an example of how our 'liv' is their 'leev' and i would not use that pronunciation if I am not Norwegian.
As I said, Amelie is an example of a french name popular over here, but we English pronounce it differently, even though our pronunciation is 'wrong'.

OP posts:
PorkusEnormous · 25/11/2012 19:22

Liv Tyler pronounces it as 'Liv' because she's not Norwegian.

OP posts:
SamSmalaidh · 25/11/2012 19:24

My friend whose DD is called Liv pronounces it differently depending on what language she is speaking Shock

PorkusEnormous · 25/11/2012 19:25

Anyways, AlmostAHipster, I agree it's an elegant and classy name :)

The Olivia presumption is slightly annoying, though. I don't want to put Olivia on the birth certificate because I don't want to call her Olivia. Not that keen on the name as a whole and it's far too popular imo.

OP posts:
PorkusEnormous · 25/11/2012 19:26

SamSmalaidh - perfect example, it's 'Leev' in Norweigian and 'Liv' in English!

OP posts:
AlmostAHipster · 25/11/2012 19:28

Porkus if you love the name, then there's really no reason not to choose it. Honestly, the Olivia thing is not a big problem - not everybody asks for clarification, most just say it's a lovely name when they hear it for the first time.

Frikadellen · 25/11/2012 19:28

I am Danish and Liv is used a lot as a name in Denmark it is not said Leave nor have I ever heard any Norwegians say it that way there is a short i sound and a heavy V sound so more like LiVv

for fun I found this website that " pronoounces it " for you... here

Frikadellen · 25/11/2012 19:29

btw I dont personally like it but due to very negative associations.

PorkusEnormous · 25/11/2012 19:32

Frikadellen that's interesting, thanks! Will have no guilt pronouncing it phonetically then!

*AlmostAHipster I'm running it past DH now :)

OP posts:
MolotovCocktail · 26/11/2012 10:47

I really like Liv. If we ever have another DD, a name where she could be called Liv would be high onnmy list.

However, I'd name the baby Livia or Olivia, simply because Liv doesn't feel like a full name to me. Of course, i know that it is; it just doesnt sound that way to me. It's a beautiful NN or diminutive..

wigglesrock · 26/11/2012 12:04

I have an Olivia who is called Liv (its wasn't intentional), but it stuck, apart from her baby sister who calls her Lou Lou Grin. It really nice when you hear it out loud if that makes sense. She's just started primary school (5) and is the only Olivia in a very large year group. I know an adult Livia and I really love it. But if you like Liv I would just use it and wouldn't feel the pressure to use a longer version on birth certificate.

LoveYouForeverMyBaby · 26/11/2012 12:32

I really like Liv but I imagine a lot of people would assume it was short for Olivia.

bananaramma · 26/11/2012 12:34

How would you pronounce Liv - as Leev or Live? Not sure it sounds that feminine or elegant either way, sorry.

Swipe left for the next trending thread