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Original poster

Is Olivia too boring?

96 replies

Crazyblonde000 · 26/04/2020 08:59

Hi,
Basically I’m trying to decide on a name and for as long as I can remember, Olivia has been my favourite name. I think it’s absolutely beautiful and I adore the nickname Liv! The only problem is it’s the most popular girls name and that’s all anyone says to me when I suggest it! So my question is, how much would the popularity of a name put you off? And do you think it’s a ‘boring’ name? as I’ve been told by a few people 🙄. I’m just torn weather to just go with it because I love it or choose something more unusual! Thankyou ☺️ (Sorry for the long message)

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IFancyANamechange · 26/04/2020 09:00

If you love it, go for it.

daisypond · 26/04/2020 09:04

Olivia is a nice name. Even though it may be top of the lists, I don’t know a single person, young or old, called it. You could consider Livia or Olive if you wanted.

NannyR · 26/04/2020 09:04

I really like it - it's a beautiful, classic name that suits all ages, I don't think it's at all boring. For all it's supposed to be one of the most popular girls names, I only know of one Olivia under ten.
You could go with something more unusual and still find that there is more than one in her peer group. I would just go with what you love.

Echobelly · 26/04/2020 09:07

If you like it go for it - I think it's passed its peak of popularity now, so she wouldn't be one of a zillion Olivias like she might have been 10 years ago!

MrsMonicaBing · 26/04/2020 09:10

I have a daughter named Olivia, she is the only one in her school. It's a beautiful name, definitely not boring either IMO 😊

Starface · 26/04/2020 09:12

Literally no one can make this decision for you. You have already outlined the main issues. Now you have to choose what you can live with.

Tons of other people having the same name?

Or a name you aren't so fond of?

I grew up with a very popular name. There were once 5 of us with the same name in a class of 30. It didn't and doesn't really matter. I sometimes dreamt of having a different more unusual name. But don't we all explore being different as we grow.

I find names over time become the person inextricably. You may well grow to love any name as you love the person. The name of a person so close loses its objectivity. So eventually you would be able to laugh and talk about how you once considered calling her Olivia. It will seem strange because she will be the other name.

Neither scenario looks especially bad to me. Which feels better for you? Only you can call it, sorry, as there is no obvious best choice here.

IndiaMay · 26/04/2020 09:17

To be honest I dont like names in the top 50 and would never call a child a top 10 name. I'm in an age group of people who are starting to have babies and I know loads of people having Olivia's (fb friends from school and university show this). I dont understand why you would choose a really popular name, they would forever be 'Olivia M' at school etc. I grew up with a semi unusual name and it was so much nicer then all the kids with identical names.

Frazzled2207 · 26/04/2020 09:23

I think it’s a lovely name. There are lots and lots of older Olivias but I don’t know as many younger ones. It’s timeless and unlikely to date.

However my son has a name which I thought was fairly unusual but it turns out just after he was born there was a big spike and there’s hundreds of them- his name is the only one repeated in his school class 😡 . My other son has something far more unusual and he’s the only one with his name round here. I much prefer the latter scenario even though it gives us minor problems with spelling etc sometimes.

There will be no spelling issues with Olivia which is good but there will be many many others around. Depends if that bothers you or not.

user1471530109 · 26/04/2020 09:24

I have been teaching for 17 years and never met an Olivia. There was one in the year that left as I started at the current school.
However, my sister is also a teacher and reckons every other girl is an Olivia! I guess it depends where you are (we were is same city at the time, but opposite ends).

I love the name btw. My dds both are the only kids with their names at their school (both fairly popular, normal names). But the eldest goes to a dance class in another city and there are 4 girls with the same name in her class.

MarieQueenofScots · 26/04/2020 09:25

I chose my daughters name when I was 9.

It was one of the most popular when she was born however we’ve only ever met another 2. Both older than her.

Conversely a friend when for a very unusual name and her daughter went through school with another in the same class.

What is important is you love the name, not what lists it is or isn’t on.

BuffaloCauliflower · 26/04/2020 09:27

It’s a lovely name. I actually don’t think I know any, although I know it’s fairly well used.

SallyWD · 26/04/2020 09:27

It's lovely.

toughgetsgoing · 26/04/2020 09:33

Rly nice but I cant deal with Ollie as a nn on a girl and its popularity has sullied it a bit for me but dont listen to me it’s a good name not overly faddy. It IS a top 2 or 3 name so don’t listen to people saying they don’t know Olivias because you could be lucky and not meet many or you could have 3 others in a class - but it is a common name

Whatsyourflava · 26/04/2020 09:35

It’s such a beautiful name I think you should go for it

Look at the official statistics - there’s actually not that many Olivia’s per 1000 babies and as others have said it’s on a downward slope now- much less used than it used to be

MatchsticksForMyEyesReturns · 26/04/2020 09:36

My 12yr old DD is Olivia, although she wanted to be known as Liv at secondary. In 16 years of teaching, I've only taught two Olivia's, there were no Olivia's at her primary and only 1 in her current school cohort of almost 200

abigailthespiderinthehat · 26/04/2020 09:36

This is why you should never tell other people your name choices! Once the baby is born everyone will say the name is nice regardless of what they actually think. Go with what you love. My DS has the most beautiful name in the world, but other people think it's a boring old mans name- I couldn't give a toss, I love it!

Pebbleinthesand · 26/04/2020 09:38

If you love it and have loved it for a long time, choose it or you might regret it. I've been a teacher for the past 9 years and have only ever taught (and known in the school) one Olivia. There are a lot of names out there, especially with some people trying to come up with names that are less common so it being the most popular name isn't necessarily going to mean your child will grow up with other children named Olivia as well.

Whatsyourflava · 26/04/2020 09:45

Yeh the top names are no where near as common as the top 1980s names. The days of 5 Sarah’s in a class are gone

Whatsyourflava · 26/04/2020 09:45

I’ve DMd you @Crazyblonde000 with some official stats - hope helpful

Beanosaurus · 26/04/2020 09:45

It's a lovely name. There is an Alivia in my sons class which I also really like.

DominaShantotto · 26/04/2020 09:50

There are 7 in DD1's year group of 60. None in DD2's year group a couple of years younger.

TheySnackin · 26/04/2020 09:53

I'm an Olivia. I'm mid 30's. Never met another one. I've also never been told it's boring...

pinkpinecone · 26/04/2020 09:57

I know of so many Olivias from adults to babies. It would put me off but I like names which are slightly more unusual. If you like it though then go for it, it's popular because it's nice.

babynamelover · 26/04/2020 10:07

If you love it use it that's what's most important 😉.

Dyra · 26/04/2020 10:07

It's not boring at all, it's a very pretty, lovely name. So what if it's popular? There's no real downside to that. If you love it, go for it.