Oliver

[littlegreengloworm]

I think it is a growing contender. Dh is Irish, we both like classic names.

Is it getting too popular?

Oliver is a gorgeous name, I had it on my list for ds.

It is definitely popular but not overly so and it's popular because it is so nice!

I hate it

I just think it's such a thoroughly ugly sound and Ollie is even worse.

Plus as an Irish person I can't get past the Cromwell connection.

Has been v popular for a long time now.

There are two my son's school, none at all in nursery and know of one at baby group we go to.

If you like it, go for it

Middle son would have been Oliver but it just didn't suit him. Lovely name.

Where I live it's hugely popular - eg three in a toddler group of ten families, three and an Olivia in a preschool "class" of twelve, etc.

It is definitely a classic, though. I like it very much, but dislike the fairly inevitable Ollie.

Wasn't it THE most popular boys name a few years ago?

Oliver sounds ok but really dislike Ollie/Olly!

I have one - I love it! It is popular but a classic and won't date. There is one other in my son's year of 110 children but never been another in our baby classes or actual class. We have 2 Scarletts and 2 Gemmas in our class! There are 2 Luke's and 2 Matthews in another class...we have also always had multiple Tom/Thomas/Tommy's so I personally wouldn't rule out a name for popularity as you could easily choose a less popular name and still have another in your child's class!

I love it, and Ollie as well.

I've been wondering the same, OP. I've always dismissed Oliver due to it's high rankings in the ons stats, but i actually quite like it. We have a friend called Oliver (aged late 20's) and i know an 8 year old Oliver, both of which live hundreds of miles from us.
Oh sod it, it's going on the list!

I like it a lot. I didn't use it as there are are lots in DH's extended family, all with the same surname as us.

Agree with EyelinerQueen that Oliver is traditionally not very popular amongst Irish people because of the Cromwell association. St Oliver Plunkett is a more positive association, apparently.

It was very popular in the UK a few years ago, but not quite so much now I think.

Definitely hugely popular. It was number 2 on last years most popular in England and Wales. For good reason though, lovely name.

I love Oliver. I finally got my way for ds2

He's gorgeous - a real 'Ollie'.