Thoughts on Olive...

[sophiepumpkin]

We have had the name Martha picked for our baby girl, due soon, for a long time. I've recently had a wobble because I've met a few other Martha's and the name appears to be gaining in popularity. I am very taken with Olive but wondered what the consensus is, it seems to be a love it or hate it one. Thoughts on the names much appreciated.

I wouldn't worry about negative comments op. If youre looking for a name that's not widely used it will, by defailt, not be a popular choice, so it won't be liked by everyone. If you ask for honest opinions on the Internet you'll get honest opinions :-D

If you love it, go for it.

I like both Olive and Martha. If it makes any difference, I've never met a baby Martha (though have met a 3 year old one), but have met a couple of baby Olives recently (London).

I'm surprised not everyone thinks of of an olive...?!

Made me think of on the buses straight away.

Olivia is much nicer but I prefer Martha the most. If it helps I don't know any baby/child Marthas.

And I'm a midwife so I meet a lot of babies!

My connotations of Olive aren't that great, but I eat a lot of olives! I think it's about your connotations and if you like the sound of the name. I'm sure if I knew a little Olive I would start to feel more positive.

I like it but I prefer Martha

I have a 9 month old names Olive Harriet and we love it and it suits her perfectly. It's one of those love it or hate it names but we've only ever had positive comments about it. And she's anything but dreary! :-)

Frumpy and dull

Sorry I don't likeit. I know someone with a dog called Olive and it pees snd poos in the house.

Jennifer Saunders has a dog called Olive. Hopefully not one that pees and poos in the house though

Martha and Nell are both lovely names. Olive and Mabel are both hideous.

HTH.

whoTheFuckIsSimon

That's what I thought of too

Yep. On The Buses. I'm 'only' 43 . Olivia has a lovely Italianate sound but Olive is frumpy IMO.
Prefer Martha out of your two original choices.

I loves olives though .

I met a brand new, few days old baby Olive the other day. Wasn't yours was it OP?

A joke name sorry op, for anyone who remembers On the Buses although I loved the character.

I like it and have heard of 1 baby Olive

I have an Oliver but take the "r" off and I hate the name Olive , don't know why I just do, sounds so old.

However, I received negative vibes about his name as wasn't that popular 13/14 yrs ago and recently was number 1 boys name so go with what you like as I did, even ex mil hated his name ( still denies saying that to this day )

I'm in my mid 30s and have only heard of On The Buses, never seen it, am not able to picture any of the characters. I would be surprised if many folk younger than me have even heard of it.

I like the name Olive, it's not my favourite.
I know a few Martha's though, which puts me off it.

(I do quite like the old fashioned names trend though. I have boys, which was trickier)

I've only ever heard of On The Buses in Baby Name threads on mumsnet. I looked it up on Wikipedia before - it originally finished airing in 1974, but has been repeated on ITV3 in recent years.

I'm always astounded by the number of people who bring this sitcom up as a reason to not call a baby Olive.

I like Olave, especially if you have a link to Guiding (Baden Powell's wife and World Chief Guide).

Love Martha and Olive. They're both lovely x

MrsJoeyMaynard - she was a well known character though, because she had a distinctive look with those glasses and hair clip. A bit like how loads of people knew what Hilda Ogden looked like (and associated the name with her) even if they didn't watch Coronation Street.

I wasn't born until 1976 but definetely saw On The Buses on terrestrial tv as a child. Must have been repeats but it was on a lot when I was primary school age.