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Baby names

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

Original poster

Oliver or James

40 replies

user1471523301 · 20/09/2016 19:38

I am 6 months pregnant and struggling to think of boys names! The only two DH and I agree on are Oliver and James, but they are both really popular. Any preferences between the two? Any more suggestions of names we might like?

It has to be a fairly classic name as we have quite a long, unusual surname.

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WottyMcWottFace · 20/09/2016 20:41

Why not have both and call him Oliver James. Both lovely names

GoNorthDarren · 20/09/2016 20:53

James for me! I always seem to love people called James. All the ones I know are really fun and mischievous (in a good way). As well as that, it's less popular, (where I live at the minute anyway), and I'm not keen on the 'liver' sound in Oliver. It makes me think of... well liver. I also knew an Ollie who got called "Ollie the wally", which has put me off the nn Ollie.

Original poster
user1471523301 · 20/09/2016 20:54

We did think of that but not going to bother with a middle name. There are so few names that we both like that we thought we'd better save one for a second child!

OP posts:
Sophronia · 21/09/2016 00:47

James

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 21/09/2016 08:17

James.

Hagothehills · 21/09/2016 08:25

James. My DS is an Oliver, we picked because it was one of the few names we could agree on and thought it wouldn't be too popular. Now feels like every other little boy we meet is an Oliver! Also my little cousin James is really awesome person

MrsHathaway · 21/09/2016 09:32

This is why not Oliver James, by the way.

Ours is Oliver James for that reason.

FindingNemoFindingDory · 28/09/2016 14:32

Oliver Smile

hels18 · 28/09/2016 14:41

We are in the exact same position, we both love Oliver and James, but feel like every little boy I meet is one or the other. I really want to go for Oliver but I am worried he will forever be referred to as 'little Oliver' or 'Oliver B' or 'ginger Oliver'..

Notso · 28/09/2016 14:58

I know 5 males called Oliver James. So I'd go James.

Jenni2legs · 28/09/2016 15:19

Both are so popular, Oliver is more so. I'd call him River instead Grin

OvO · 28/09/2016 15:25

James.

I have one who's almost 12 - never been known as anything other than James or an unconnected nickname.

And for a name in the top 10 we rarely meet others. No other James' in his school.

InLoveWithMattSmithsQuiff · 28/09/2016 15:38

James is gorgeous.

Peanutbutterpussycat · 28/09/2016 15:47

I have a 13 year old Oliver and in 2003 it was not popular ( he was named after a cat Grin ) and he was the only one in primary and now in secondary as far as I'm aware but I love his name and he suits it though does like to be called Ollie, my dp only ever calls him Oliver though as he doesn't like Ollie so much!

If my dd had been a boy then would have named him Oscar, it's a marmite name but I absolutely love it.
Good luck op.

Original poster
user1471523301 · 29/09/2016 09:53

Thanks everyone! Think I will have to wait and see which one he looks like. (I will consider River if he doesn't look like an Oliver or a James.)

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