Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

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

Thoughts on Olivia

64 replies

curlyhairdiva · 21/10/2020 18:02

Hi all,
So basically, both me and my partner love the name Olivia and have agreed that if we have a baby girl we would possibly go for this name. I just wondered what all you guys opinion on it is? Do you think its too popular at the moment? I also like Jean as a middle name, as this is my partner's nan's name and I just feel like it fits really well (Olivia Jean). What's your thoughts?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MJMG2015 · 21/10/2020 19:50

God there are some rude people. It's one thing to say you don't like it or you think it's overused, but some of these comments are just nasty & uncalled for.

I wasn't keen on it when my cousin called her little girl that, but she's a beautiful wee 2 yo now, full of cuteness & cheek and it has really grown on me.

Better to choose a lovely name and have 2 in the class, than an unlovely name to be 'unique'.

Not keen on Jean as the middle name though, for me it's too soon to come back, but more so, I wouldn't want the initials 'OJ'

PoodleMoth · 21/10/2020 20:02

Boring and overused, like Jean though!

emmathedilemma · 21/10/2020 20:32

I really like it. Might be a regional thing but I only know one who’s late teens.

oldperson1 · 21/10/2020 20:44

This has always been my favorite name love it

Harmarsuperstar · 21/10/2020 20:55

I love Olivia and also Jean

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/10/2020 20:58

Olivia is beautiful and I think it's elegant and suits all ages. Only issue as mentioned is that it is so popular now that there is a high chance that she won't be the only one in her school class if that bothers you. However I don't think it will date as badly as some names as it's very classical (Shakespearean etc) so will likely be seen as more of the Laura/Sarah of the future rather than the more dated Nicola/Gemma iykwim.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 21/10/2020 21:00

Oh, Olivia Jean is lovely by the way - nice not to have another Olivia Rose or Olivia May as pretty though they are!

Alfiemoon1 · 21/10/2020 21:00

I have an Olivia Charlotte but she’s 19 now she does get called liv or Livy when she was younger

DancingLady · 21/10/2020 21:04

I'd go for Jean as a first name. It's a beautiful name and sadly underused!

Rainbowb · 21/10/2020 21:09

If you both love it then go for it!!! Who cares if it’s a popular name? It’s also a beautiful name that will suit her into adulthood.

blue25 · 21/10/2020 21:11

It’s too common now. I know 5 Olivias!

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 21/10/2020 21:12

It is so, so popular. It has been #1 or #2 since 2008 and unless you know a lot of children through work, family etc you might not realise just how popular it is. I wouldn’t consider it unless you have a very unusual surname, but popularity was one of my main criteria when naming my children.

If the Shakespearean connection appeals, how about Viola, Miranda, Beatrice or Rosalind?

Kanaloa · 21/10/2020 21:15

It’s lovely, very popular but I don’t think it matters. Your Olivia will be the only one to you. Jean is a lovely middle name as well, a bit different from Olivia Rose/Olivia Grace which is popular.

SeanCailleach · 21/10/2020 21:39

It's a lovely, classic, elegant name and I love being able to shout Olivia and be sure that at least one kid will pay attention Wink
Seriously go for it. Olivia Jean sounds v strong.

Firebird83 · 21/10/2020 21:41

Boring. I’d swap them and go with Jean Olivia.

emilybrontescorsett · 21/10/2020 21:43

Classic and timeless

DesdemonaDryEyes · 21/10/2020 21:46

Very popular. Nice name.

I know a family where one had a son. Named him Oliver. His sister had a daughter a few weeks later. Ages before the name was announced. Olivia.

MrsBonnie · 21/10/2020 21:47

Absolutely love Olivia. It's a classic, and is popular for a good reason. I teach in a school in Chester and we only have 2 Olivia's across the years. Not as popular as Isla, Isabelle/a or Lucy.

Hannah12345625 · 21/10/2020 21:49

It's so popular at the moment. I am a teacher and there are FIVE Olivias in the class!!

MegaBloxRoxx · 21/10/2020 22:18

Great name but so popular.

How about Jeannie Olivia instead?

MimiDaisy11 · 22/10/2020 10:08

I really like the name Olivia, and Olivia Jean does go well together. Personally, I ruled it out as it has been the top name for so long, but you just need to ask yourself if that bothers you. There are benefits to having a popular name.

Whatsyourflava · 22/10/2020 10:12

Olivia Jean is really lovely

Whilst olivia is still the number 1 name, it's numbers have been falling each and every year since 2017. There was well over 1,000 less baby Olivia's in 2019 than there was in 2017

Squeakerfoot · 22/10/2020 11:00

I've always liked it. Even if it's popular it'll vary by area how many you'll encounter. I only know one little Olivia.

ThanksItHasPockets · 22/10/2020 11:06

I used to teach a class with six Olivias, all of whom were really quiet and studious with almost identical hairstyles. I had to learn to identify them by their handwriting.

NotAnotherHelen · 22/10/2020 11:12

@Whatsyourflava

Olivia Jean is really lovely

Whilst olivia is still the number 1 name, it's numbers have been falling each and every year since 2017. There was well over 1,000 less baby Olivia's in 2019 than there was in 2017

Nice idea but not really relevant in any longitudinal sense when there have been circa 4k Olivias at minimum born every year since 1999. If anything it's worse to have a previously enormously popular name on its way down - see my username, given to me in the Eighties!