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Is olive to similar to oliver

20 replies

MissMoodyMoo · 11/02/2025 16:05

Is olive to similar for to oliver for cousins names?

I'd probably go with olly a lot where as oliver doesn't shorten his name at all

Struggling to come up with a name that fits our vibe

OP posts:
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Whoarethoseguys · 11/02/2025 16:06

For siblings definitely no but I don't see the issue with cousins

SarahLHs · 11/02/2025 16:08

Same as above. Too similar for siblings but for cousins it's fine

Pickandmixusername · 11/02/2025 16:09

Absolutely fine for cousins

oakleaffy · 11/02/2025 16:11

Olive is a bit of a dreary name.. go brighter!

KnickerFolder · 11/02/2025 16:11

I think they have very different vibes.

Olly is more of an issue to me. I think Olly is more of a diminutive for Oliver than Olive. Liv is more common for Olive/Olivia. I guess that wouldn’t matter normally, nicknames and diminutives just evolve, but Oliver may well want to be Olly too when he is older.

InTheRainOnATrain · 11/02/2025 16:30

I’d only avoid if they have the same surname and there’s a strong likelihood they’ll end up in the same primary school class as it would a bit silly being read like that on the register every morning. Otherwise it’s absolutely fine!

PersephonesPomegranate · 11/02/2025 16:32

As above, for cousins it's fine. But really, in the whole world of possible names that you could pick, why would you choose the one that is so similar?

MistyF · 11/02/2025 16:39

It's fine for cousins, but can't you think of other names?

bluebunnys · 11/02/2025 16:50

They'll probably both be Ollie though

AubernFable · 11/02/2025 18:08

Is this for a boy or girl OP?

Moreteaandchocolate · 11/02/2025 18:49

Fine for cousins!

MiddleAgedDread · 11/02/2025 18:51

We have an Oliver and he never shortened his name until friends did when he was older!

HettyCletter · 11/02/2025 18:57

I think it’s too similar for cousins, unless they only see each other very infrequently.

I had the same dilemma as my sister has an Olive and I considered Oliver for my youngest but decided it was too similar.

username462025 · 11/02/2025 23:17

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 11/02/2025 23:45

Nope, not too close for cousins in many families. I have a cousin called Samantha and I was still happily considering Samuel until I found another name I like even better. They’d have different surnames, big age differences and we rarely see each other.

However maybe if they are going to be seeing each other regularly and/or you have a very small family it might seem more odd. A lot of kids don’t start shortening their names till they get older too.

Olive has a similar “retro/hipster” vibe to Ivy, Violet, Mabel, Cora and Ada type names to me, but maybe they are too popular to consider? Have you also thought about names like Blythe, Verity or Sylvie/Sylvia which share some similar sounds to Olive?

toastofthetown · 12/02/2025 08:47

This is one where I think it depends how close you are to them and how it feels to you. The names are very similar and just because he’s not an Olly now, doesn’t mean he won’t want to be in the future. If my sister had an Oliver, I’d avoid Olive because we’re close and see each other frequently and it would feel silly to me even though the children would live in different areas, have different surnames and go to different schools. I wouldn’t be annoyed if she called her baby Olive if I had an Oliver. I’d probably mention the similarity as would a lot of family or mutual friends, I imagine so it depends if that would bother you.

KayEmAy · 12/02/2025 14:14

Not for cousins

Rowen32 · 12/02/2025 22:10

I wouldn't call a baby girl Olly even as a nickname, I don't think it's nice enough. Like PP said Liv seems better if you had to shorten it. Oliver will definitely go to Olly even with friends so wouldn't take the chance.

DorothyStorm · 12/02/2025 22:11

Fine for cousins.
Not for siblings.

justanotherposterfrom · 12/02/2025 22:33

Olivia is a really pretty name, have you considered that?
It doesn't sound too much like Oliver either not that I think that would be an issue with cousins.
I knew the girl at school named Olivia and she went with the nickname Liv.

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