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Baby names

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

Original poster

Olive...opinions please

104 replies

Gdacsmum · 14/05/2018 09:34

Hubby and I really like Olive for a girl (Olive Joan Nora) but I am worried as it’s a bit unusual and I would hate if she was teased/didn’t like her name. Do you know any olives, how was the name received, any thoughts? Thanks

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tentontruck · 14/05/2018 22:25

I love it. It makes me think of sunny Mediterranean olive groves. I know two little Olives and they're both lovely.

Buntysoven · 14/05/2018 23:40

One of our tortoises is Olive and she's feisty fabulous and affectionate so it's a huge yes from me!

PersisFord · 14/05/2018 23:51

Gorgeous. Go for it!

Original poster
Gdacsmum · 16/05/2018 09:23

Thanks the other option is Olive Elsie Joan

OP posts:
Perfectway · 16/05/2018 09:27

Really awful and Nora is even worse.

Original poster
Gdacsmum · 16/05/2018 12:55

Wow, harsh!

OP posts:
sausagepastapot · 16/05/2018 12:56

I love it too

MikeUniformMike · 16/05/2018 13:05

Olivia is nice. Olive isn't.
Nora just makes me think of Flamin' Nora.
I like Joan.

CAAKE · 16/05/2018 13:07

I love love love Olive! It would have been our DC's name if any of them had been girls.

crunchtime · 17/05/2018 17:22

Olive is on the buses
Norah is norah batty
Joan is a woman of about 70 with white permed hair

Original poster
Gdacsmum · 17/05/2018 20:14

It’s a shame people feel the need to be so brutal with their comments. A bit of constructive criticism is nice but slating people’s name choices is a bit too much for me

OP posts:
crunchtime · 17/05/2018 21:54

And you don't think people in real life will judge just as harshly?
When you name a baby you have to remember you are naming a person who will have to go into rooms and introduce themselves with that name.

Original poster
Gdacsmum · 17/05/2018 22:45

It’s all a matter of opinion and preference.

OP posts:
RavenWings · 17/05/2018 23:41

I think it's awful, just not an attractive sound. And this is Baby Names - you asked for opinions, people gave them.

Kokeshi123 · 18/05/2018 02:11

I really don't like it, sorry. It sounds plump and squishy.

Nora is not bad. Joan... maybe a bit soon for a someback. How about Jean?

GlitteryFluff · 18/05/2018 06:13

I love olive - was on my list for dd. ( and fwiw love Nora too, dd is a Norah).

Twooter · 18/05/2018 06:28

Love Elsie, really dislike Olive. Sorry.

proudmum101 · 18/05/2018 09:54

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Hiphopopotamus · 18/05/2018 10:06

Reported your post proudmum. Ridiculous and unnecessary.

Love the name OP - and even if I didn't I would just say I didn't like it - not be so horribly harsh. Yes it's baby names but we are also talking about names that people may have already. Or may have given their children. You can be honest without being rude!

PersisFord · 18/05/2018 10:18

Also....it’s a beautiful name. Willowy and sophisticated and interesting.

goldentriangle · 18/05/2018 16:24

I loved Olive but couldn't use it due to a family Olivia. Only concern was like Flora , spreads easily.

Original poster
Gdacsmum · 18/05/2018 17:13

Funny you should say that golden triangle, I was a bit worried about that too.

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Original poster
Gdacsmum · 18/05/2018 17:16

Thank you hiphopopotamous, as you say, those are the names of my/oh’s beloved grandmas so overly harsh comments seem unnecessary and quite hurtful

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Floralnomad · 18/05/2018 17:18

I think you were right about it being a marmite name , to me , being 50+ it just makes me think of the sister in On the Buses and that’s enough to make it a definite no no .

BertieBotts · 18/05/2018 17:19

I know an Olive who is in her 30s. It was definitely unusual and she's the only one I know! I know more Olivias. I knew a Joan this age as well.

I'm not really keen on it as a name myself but the Olive I know is lovely and it really suits her. I just couldn't imagine it on anyone else if that makes sense. The only thing I remember relating to her name is that once we went to a foodie festival together and we walked past the olive stall and she said "I keep trying to like olives because I think I should, but I really don't." And somebody once bought her an olive tree for Christmas which she said was really thoughtful but she was shit at gardening so it died. Grin