Thoughts on / alternatives to Olive?

[Reclining]

Please help! This is the only name we can agree on but I'm not 100% sure.

Little sister to Jasmine.

We're not keen on names ending in -a but not 100% against.

Prefer familiar names that aren't super popular.

Slightly put off Olive because of the popularity of Oliver and Olivia (is that rational?)

How about

Lucy
Honor
Cerys
Frances
Zoe
Pearl
Romy

I really like Olive - but what about Florence.

Alice

Jasmine & Libby
Jasmine & Phoebe
Jasmine & Verity
Jasmine & Felicity
Jasmine & Lottie
Jasmine & Lois
Jasmine & Calista

I also think of Olive Oil, Olive from on the buses and wasn't little Miss Sunshine Olive? It does sound like a frumpy plain name next to Jasmine .

How about
Heather
Tess
Meredith nickname Edie
Elisabeth
Elspeth

Jasmine is quite pretty or exotic sounding in my head, I guess because of the lovely, sensual smelling flowers- and Olive sounds/looks so stodgy in comparison to me, sorry.
Hmmn, does it have to be floral/nature linked? How about May? - that's retro like Olive and has a sweet flower link but far prettier looking and very well known but underused as a first name.

Olive was on our list if we'd had a girl, but truthfully reactions from family members (of my parents' age) all focused on it reminding them of Olive Oyl, the Popeye character, which was disappointing. I think it's beautiful though - simple and unusual without being too out there. In case it helps, other girls names on our list included:

Wren
Adaline
Noa
Anna
Madeleine
Winter
Aspen

Congratulations, OP

I like Olive and agree with pp that it has a different vibe to Olivia.

I think the natural shortening would be Liv still though (which is a lovely name in itself but might blend into all the Olivias)

Jasmine & Ottilie is lovely as suggested

I see Jasmine as pairing with something like-

Celeste
Cecily
Serena
Calliope
Lilah
Rosanna

I love the name Olive. About 15 years ago I was very ill in hospital and a very elderly lady opposite me was called Olive, she had a very determined character, was completely unflappable and also was absolutely lovely - great sense of humour and very sweet. If I had one, I always thought I would want to name my DD after her, but I haven't had the opportunity.

What about Ottilie?

Please not Olivia!! DC knows 5 of them and he's only a baby!

Jasmine and

Annabel
Keziah
Zara
Alexandra (Allie)
Stella
Pearl
Simone
Gabrielle
Romy
Beatrix
Hollie

I think Olive is a really elegant name

I think it might be a while before OTB completely leaves public memory but even so, I think there are potentially prettier names than Olive.

Really don't like the name olive. It sounds old fashioned but not in a cool way. And I get the impression you're looking for something more original than olivia.

Some ideas that might go with Jasmine and don't end in a.

Isobel, Annabelle, Corale, Celeste, Emmeline, Christabel, Willow, Lilly, Ruby, Summer, Autumn, Poppy.

@CinnamonTwist this is wonderful. There’s something so fabulous about the idea of naming after someone you’ve briefly encountered and been amazed by - love this story

I love Olive, I think it's super cute, never even heard of On the Buses. Had it on my baby name lists but DH vetoed. Other names I loved were:

Skylar
Lorna
Connie
Margo / Marga / Marguerite
Bonnie
Elizabeth
Juliette
Audrey/ Aubrey
Tessa
Carrie
Dora
Inez
Clementine
Joni
Etta
Francine
Anoushka

Ophelia?

I think Olive only belongs in a salad, and I would be really pissed if I were her, having a sister with a lovey name like Jasmine and getting landed with bloody Olive.

However it’s got v popular as an alternative to Olivia so 🤷‍♀️

Not overused alternatives might be..

Jasmine and

Olwen (which gives you Ollie as a nn)
Frances
Lois
Zoe
Caitlin
Laurel
Carys
Ffion
Sorrel
Aislinn (Ash-linn)
Jocelyn
Arran
Elsbeth
Catrin
Ines
Merryn
Gwyneth

Astrid, Robin and Seren might also work but they are a bit more popular (although not as popular as Olive I don’t think)

Olympia?

Jasmine and

Clementine (Clemmie)
Rosa
Ollie
Orla
Elodie
Ember

People have Noa for a girl so I can’t see why you can’t have Ollie if you like it.

Iris. Jasmine?

Thanks all.

I've added a few suggestions to our list and DP has okayed Leila, Aurora and Colette (although I'm not 100% sure about all these!)

Still very torn, I think it's such a cool name and that's been confirmed by people's anecdotes of Olives they know.. however the association with the food and comparison with Jasmine just makes me worry she'd hate it!

I do wonder if I'm overthinking it.. but with Jasmine I remember being so sure.

Definitely On the Buses vibe.

Speaking as an Irish poster, Colette comes across as very old fashioned and every bit as dumpy as Olive. The Colettes I knew as a child were all born in the 1940s. They were mothers of kids I grew up with. I associate the name with women wearing head to toe crimplene in 70s-tastic shades.