Olivia - too popular?

[lill72]

We are thinking of naming DD Olivia, calling her Liv, Livvy mostly rather than her full name. I just don't want to have lots in her class at school. Thoughts?

There are two in my daughter's class, one of whom is a Livvy. She is Y1. I do like the name.

Well, last year it was the second most popular name given to girl babies in England!

There's quite a few at our school, lovely name though, we used it as a middle name.
Our oldest DD has a name that had been in the top 5 for ages when she was born, we ummed and ahhed about using it but went with it as we loved it so much and actually, we've never come across another child with her name (plenty of adults). Don't know where they're all hiding!

What about Olive?

I know it is very popular (number 2 you say!) but I don;t hear the name around the playground/nursery much. It is all about Evie, Ava, Amelia etc.

Nospring - dont like Olive. My husband wants Skye, I think I want Olivia but may like Skye, we both like Ruby but again fear it is too popular and not sure we love it enough. Ah the pressure as DD is now 1 week old with no name!!

Personally Olivia is too popular for me. I know if loads if them. Ruby doesn't really float my boat, though I don't know many of them round here. Skye is nice, unusual but pretty.

Congratulations by the way!

I love the name. We have no Olivias in DD's class and there were none at her nursery. She was always going to be Olivia but then I was put off it because I thought it was too popular, so I chose another name. But of course now there is another girl in her class with her name. Grrr.

I have a just turned 7 year old one, she's the only one in her class/year. I have a younger daughter with a perceived less popular/classic name, I'm tripping over them . It's a lovely name, she gets Liv sometimes never Livvy (she doesn't like it).

Thanks BlueStars! It feels strange not having a name. Thanks for your thoughts on all 3.

Majestic - from what I have been reading on mumsnet , this happens a bit! So I guess you have to ignore how popular they are to some degree. Makes it tricky!

Interesting Wiggles - are you able to mention the less popular name your younger DD has?

I personally am not a fan of Olivia. DD is 3. There are no Olivia's nursery class. There are 3 Ruby's. We did go to a class (around 20 each week) where there were 2 Olivia's and 1 Ruby. I have not come across a Skye which I much from your names.

That should read no Olivia's in her nursery class

which I much prefer from your names.

I really need to read before posting....

It's Anna, it's very popular where I am. Tbh a names popularity doesn't bother me at all. I'm the champion of under thinking when it comes to my kids names, I just go with what I love . I've 3 daughters and we just picked our favourite names each time.

But I know people who have picked a less used name and moved house, the child next door to them had the same name as their daughter and both kids are likely to end up in the same class. The only duplicate name in my Olivia's nursery school three years ago was a name that I hadn't heard in years and it's championed a bit on MN - Nell.

My daughter is called Olivia and she is the only one in her whole school. She is 5 in year 1 . I also only actually know 1 other Olivia, and she is 23!

HollyBen - thanks for your thoughts. Hmmm... decisions, decisions.

Wigglesrok - I love the name Anna. I didn't really care about the popularity of the name with first DD as I just went with the name I loved. Which is a good way to be, as you say you never know who you might end up living next to! Problem is finding a name I love just as much.

I only know 2. One age 15 and one, who goes by the name Livvy, aged 4. Lovely classic name.

We have an Olivia, she is 4 and the only one at nursery. We know one other who is 10. My son has a name that was outside of the top 50 when he was born , everywhere we turn we hear his name! Popularity doesn't bother me though. Nice names are popular for a reason

I know, when we had dd1 we had a name for ages and that was just that (again it's a very popular name and in MN speak overused ) but we just loved it. When I was pregnant with Liv it took a bit longer but when I was pregnant with Anna her name came to us very quickly.

Congratulations again and think of her starting school, starting "big" school, starting work, her being 30/40/50 - what name do you see yourself calling her?

Thanks wigglesrock that is sweet.

Hmmm, now that I think of it like that, the name I see myself calling her is Liv or Livvy, rather than Skye. I like friendly names and Skye is hard to shorten/make into a nickname, which I don't like. Hmmm. My DH really loves Skye though and since I picked name for DD1 (though he loved too), feel bad if I put the brakes on the one name he loves. Ahhh, just not sure.

I will keep thinking over your question - the answer will come....

Olivia Skye would be nice imo.

If you can really see yourself calling her Liv/Livvy and not Skye then I think you should push for it.

What about Livia as an alternative or too confusing to explain all the time?

Olivia is a beautiful name. You know it's popular because you know it's been top 5 for a while so you just have to decide whether that matters to you. Who cares what randoms online think?!

It would bother me a bit but if I really loved it I'd use it anyway.

The most important factor is having a name you really like. I spent ages trying to convince myself to use a whole host of out-there unusual names because I had it in my head that a popular name was in some way a very bad thing (too much time on Mumsnet!). Ultimately, choose a name you love.!

my nine year old is called Olivia...we still love the name even though we thought it was rare at the time believe it or not!!!