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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Are there too many Olivers?

30 replies

Popes · 29/04/2010 09:45

It was so helpful yesterday to talk about girls names - that I thought I'd pose the question of boys names today!

My favourite name for years has been Oliver - and was fixated on the musical when I was a kid. However, looking at the baby names list - I can see it is enormously popular. Is that a bad thing or a good thing?

Do you all know a lot of Olivers?

Quite a few of my friends have babies already - but there are no Olivers yet...so I really can't decide.

Thanks again for your help.

OP posts:

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SixtyFootDoll · 29/04/2010 09:47

Loads of em

recireci · 29/04/2010 09:50

It's a classic name

Magaly · 29/04/2010 10:09

There are a lot of them in the UK. It's still fairly unusual where I live though.

If none of your friends or family has an oliver, then use it. You will probably find that your oliver might well STAY the only oliver in YOUR close circle, as millions of threads about name stealing aside!! I think Most people will look for another name if somebody close to them has 'used up' the name first.

you got there first.

sophiesmummie · 29/04/2010 10:36

Three Olivers in my ds's class of 24. Personally that would put me off, because I hated having to add my surname initial to my name in school because there were so many of us...

So many other nice names out there...

TrillianAstra · 29/04/2010 10:38

How cruel, Jamie and Jules can have as many children as they like and don't need your permission!

sweetkitty · 29/04/2010 10:41

I know of only one

I would have loved Oliver for DS but with our surname it would have meant he would have had the same name as a well known but deceased drunken actor!

Original poster

Popes · 29/04/2010 10:45

Haha I know the one you mean!! probably a good one to steer clear of!

Three in a class doesn't sound great does it? I wonder if everyone else will start to think that and stop using it though?! (she said hopefully!)

There are plenty of other names I agree - but so far none that I like as much. Any suggestions?

OP posts:

MrsvWoolf · 29/04/2010 11:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

recireci · 29/04/2010 11:39

Charles (from Charles Dickens!)

henry37 · 29/04/2010 13:06

it is the most popular name i know at the moment and heard of two more little olivers born this week i feel like i dont even need to ask when a boy is born whats his name because it always seems to be oliver. having said that it is a nice name so if popularity not a issue for you then go for it.

sophiesmummie · 29/04/2010 13:35

I think the other problem with very popular names is that they will date more as they have become associated with a specific era, much like Clare or Stephen have to the 1970s...

mopsyflopsy · 29/04/2010 14:41

Two Olivers in my dd's class of 28. I know tons of others too. Too popular for my liking, but it may not bother you.

KERALA1 · 29/04/2010 21:27

Most newborn boys here are called Oliver. Nice name but if popularity bothers you steer clear.

CrankyTwanky · 29/04/2010 21:42

Arf Trillian!

But yes, sorry.It crosses class divides beautifuly, so there seem to be so many more than of other popular names.

Fel1x · 29/04/2010 21:46

DS1 (4yo) is Oliver and I dont know any other Olivers at all personally
I always knew it was a popular name though and have expected to come across many others but DS has always been the only Oliver at nursery. pre school and school!
Ds2's name I thought was much less popular but we come across other children with the same name ALL the time!!!

midnightexpress · 29/04/2010 21:51

I don't know any. None in either of my DSs nursery classes afaik and none of my friends or acquaintances have DSs called Oliver (we're in Scotland, probably makes a difference?).

Actually, I do know one, but he's about 35.

mummytosquidgies · 30/04/2010 18:53

We have an Oliver (2.11)
When I was pregnant with him we didn't know anyone with children and there didn't seem to be any Oliver's in shops etc.
Now it seems every other little boy we meet is called Oliver! (We're in Denmark)
We have it worse in that our last name is Jensen, and that's like Smith here, so they can't even do Oliver J, as there'd still be loads!
I hate that there's so many other Oliver's, but I still think it's a lovely name.

I say if you like it, go for it, it's popular for a reason

APassionateWoman · 30/04/2010 19:43

I know a couple. I think it'd an excellent name, and Olly is a lovely NN.

pitterpatterfeet · 30/04/2010 20:34

In Scotland here too and I would say it's the most popular boys baby name that I've heard recently. Know loads of them!

letsblowthistacostand · 30/04/2010 20:44

Lots of little Ollies around here. But it's a lovely name so don't let that put you off. One of my brothers has a popular name and always had to use his initial but my other brother's name is more obscure and he's always having to explain it to people and spell it. In a way it's a lot easier to be one of many.

Clary · 30/04/2010 23:08

There are 3 Olivers in DS2's yr at school - about 25 boys in total so that's 1 in 8.

In total of school-age children under 11 I know, there are at least a dozen Olivers. Not quite as many as James and Matthew but not far off. Mind you I am out of the pre-school loop now so its popularity may be going down.

If you like it tho, use it. It's popular for a good reason!

MamaLazarou · 01/05/2010 12:39

Yes. There are too many.

When I hear 'Oliver' being called out in the supermarket, I always expect the mother to burst into song.

ifihadahifi · 01/05/2010 16:34

If you love it, use it! I agree with Magaly's post

muminthemiddle · 01/05/2010 21:53

Classic name.
If you go for a more unusual name you run the risk that that too will become popular and maybe termed "chavvy", "pretentious", "trying too hard" etc. Just pick a name you like for heaven's sake and make sure it isn't a stupid sounding name eg Nevil Nevile.

Beegey · 02/05/2010 14:56

Yes, there are heaps of Olivers about the place, but if you like it, go for it.

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