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Original poster

Oliver 'Ollie'

31 replies

molly84 · 02/08/2014 22:13

Is the name 'Oliver' too popular, or is it a lovely classic name that won't date? Would an Oliver be one of many in his class? Do you know many baby Olivers? Thanks for your thoughts x

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OutragedFromLeeds · 02/08/2014 22:32

I think it's popularity has mostly passed. I know loads aged 5-10yo, but none aged under 2yo. I think it will date because it had such a surge in popularity and those names always date. It's a nice name though.

Squirm · 03/08/2014 01:54

I know absolutely tonnes.

It will definitely date as it is currently very much in fashion, and will inevitably go out of fashion.

It won't date in a Darren kind of way; more of a Mark.

TropicalHorse · 03/08/2014 06:40

Sorry, way too popular. I know 5-6 of them!

17leftfeet · 03/08/2014 06:48

I only know 1 under 3

Shallan · 03/08/2014 07:30

It was the most popular boys' name in the uk in 2013, and has been popular for a while before that. Off the top of my head I know 3 Olivers who aren't school age yet (and another four that are older).

It probably depends on your area to an extent, but certainly in london it's a very popular name.

jellybeans · 03/08/2014 18:20

It's still massively popular and there are at least 2 in each class in DC's school and lots of babies called it.

woodlandwanderwoman · 03/08/2014 19:32

I know loads of Oliver / Ollie's and all are under 3. Still a nice name but yes it's very popular.

Montsti · 03/08/2014 20:31

Popular yes but has been top 20 for ages so I would count it as a classic. It certainly hasn't come from nowhere.

Lovely name - if you like it go for it! I know loads of Williams, James, Thomases, Nicholas and I would class those as classics too.

VeraGrant · 03/08/2014 22:22

Yes, I think it's pretty strange to say it's a name that will date. Would you say that about Henry, James, William or Thomas? Oliver is a classic name that has withstood the test of time and is far from a faddy name like Oscar, for example, which kinda came out of nowhere after not being used for ages.

I personally know many more Charlies (10!), Harrys, Jacks and in fact Oscars than Olivers although it is undoubtedly a popular name!

clary · 03/08/2014 23:17

I don't know many small children (my youngest DC is 11) but I know a lot of Olivers.

3 in DS2's primary year (out of about 25 boys); last year I taught (secondary) 4; off the top of my head I can think of about five others I know well aged between 10 and 16.

It was very popular I deduce 16-10 years ago which suggests it may have passed its peak. It's not a classic dateless name IMO but then there are very few of those. It's popular because it's a great name :) but if you are looking for something unusual then Ollie is not it.

Vera Henry as a dateless name? Really? If you had named a child Henry 50 years ago it would have raised many eyebrows. Same with Thomas, honestly. I don't know a single man of my advanced aged called Henry or William.

ShovettyMcShovetty · 04/08/2014 10:03

I don't know any LOs called Ollie / Oliver. Only older kids and adults.

Squirm · 04/08/2014 10:09

Oliver is not timeless. It is certainly not like James.
Oliver was seen as very unusual 15 years ago. Yes there are Olivers of all ages (likewise Oscar/Dylan/Finn etc) but it has had a MASSIVE peak, therefore WILL date.
It's got nothing to do with being an 'old classic' name. Most names are old and classic to a certain extent.

squoosh · 04/08/2014 10:23

Oliver will certainly date. Yes it's a 'classic' name, but a classic name that was most definitely out of fashion until about 7 or 8 years ago.

I agree that it will seem dated as Mark and Paul are now.

burgatroyd · 04/08/2014 10:25

Very popular.

Orson perhaps? Sounds awesome!

NigellasDealer · 04/08/2014 10:27

Oliver and esp Ollie sound really really wet IMO -

VeraGrant · 04/08/2014 19:35

Clary, I suppose you're right, I have never come across a man of my age called William or Henry (or Harry or George or Jack or Joshua or Charlie for that matter). Lots of Toms (rather than Thomases though)

Thing is, what we can conclude from this discussion is that NO name is completely timeless except James, and perhaps Sam. So why the vitriol towards Oliver in particular? All the other names in the top 10/20 have had a relatively recent resurgence in popularity, which will undoubtedly wane again.

But it IS a classic name, as opposed to Riley or Tyler for example (nb nothing wrong with those names!)

clary · 05/08/2014 00:17

I directed no vitriol at Oliver! I said it was a great name - it is, but it is also popular.

Most names will date. The women I know are called Nicola, Karen, Clare, Julie, Joanne, Tricia; their husbands are Steve, Stu, Dave, Martin, Mark, Paul. Most of these names sound dated to me for a baby/small child now (tho I did teach a Martyn last year).

There's nothing wrong with a name being of its time; my DC have WW1 names that were popular 100 years ago and are coming back now, but sound awful to my mum's generation.

turdfairynomore · 10/08/2014 16:41

I think it also depends where you live. When I called my son Oliver nearly 16 years ago in NI I was accused of being "a
snob" as it was seen to be a very "grand" name! That's much less the view now though I don't cone across all that many-and I teach 4 year olds. Still love it!

AuntySib · 10/08/2014 16:47

It was very popular when my now 21 year old was born - several Olivers in his year at school. From what everyone has has said, seems like it has been popular ever since then.
FWIW I think it will continue to be popular, up there with James, Thomas, Sam etc.

TheFairyCaravan · 10/08/2014 16:48

When I had my Oliver, almost 18 years ago, I was accused of being a snob too, turdfairy.

He was the only one in his year at Primary and Secondary school. There was one in DS1's year 2 years above.

I love his name and it suits him, but had We have known how popular it would become we would probably have chosen something else.

florascotia · 10/08/2014 17:33

Oliver is certainly popular. It was the second most popular name in England and Wales in 2012. Over 6000 babies were given the name.
www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-318071

Statistics for 2013 are due out very soon. It will be interesting to see whether the name is rising or falling in popularity.

MrsMilton · 16/08/2014 15:48

Well, OP, did you see the ONS official baby names of 2013 that was published on Friday? Oliver is number 1!

When I was pregnant this would have massively put me off.

But a good friend has just had an Oliver and he is the first I have heard about in years! I think it's a lovely name. Really strong with cute nickname.

You never know what will be common where you live.

I've never yet met a Jack!

bubalou · 16/08/2014 19:48

Hi.

I know five Oliver's in ds's year at school (they are 6). I also know. Four year old, a 2 year old and a six month old.

Hope that helps Smile

Montsti · 16/08/2014 21:48

Oliver is clearly a very popular name but it has been in the top 20 since 1998 (can't find data for the few years before that) and top 100 since the early 70's so would hardly call it faddy ??.

Not sure why there is so much vitriol aimed towards this name in particular. If you don't like it then don't name your child it!

DownstairsMixUp · 16/08/2014 21:52

I know one Oliver, it's a lovely name. I like Ollie, infact, Olly is on our list of names for our second ds though we will just put Olly on the birth certificate, not Oliver.