Hello All,
I’m wondering what the general consensus is on the name [name_f]Olive[/name_f]. What do you envision when you hear the name? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like it? Is it too “old-fashioned”? Does it age well? [name_m]How[/name_m] do you think [name_f]Olive[/name_f] would fit in/stand out in a world filled with [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]'s? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think it’s a name that would appeal to grandparents/great-grandparents and people who aren’t name-obsessed? I’m on the hunt for an old-fashioned name that still feels a bit modern, isn’t too popular, is easy to say and spell, and isn’t too “out there”- so I’m hoping [name_f]Olive[/name_f] is a good fit.
If anyone has or knows an [name_f]Olive[/name_f] I’d love to hear your experiences with the name.
Also- considering [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] or [name_f]Liv[/name_f]/[name_f]Livvy[/name_f] as a nickname. Any thoughts or preference?
I think [name_f]Olive[/name_f] is adorable on a little girl but I think it would be hard to wear as a teenager. But once out of those teen years I think its back to being individual and confident. I think someone named [name_f]Olive[/name_f] is going to beat to her own drum. Know her own mind, and not be overly influenced by the world outside her. An [name_f]Olive[/name_f] is going to be stronger and more steadfast in my opinion.
I like it a lot. But then I really love [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] as well, and especially nn [name_f]Livy[/name_f]! One of the few names I truly love.
Yes, there will always be the food and oil connection, which I know weirds a lot of people out.
I know one baby named [name_f]Olive[/name_f] (she’s probably actually about 3 now, I moved away).
I don’t know how older people would react to it. Sometimes they see those sorts of names as too old-fashioned (since they were the names of their parents generation–like [name_f]Marsha[/name_f], [name_f]Cheryl[/name_f], [name_f]Sandra[/name_f], etc sound to us). It’s unusual enough that it was never very popular though, so I think it could get a positive reaction for those who can get past the food thing.
I love it! I met a toddler with the name, and now I envision an adorable little brunette all giggles and all. Too cute [name_f]Liv[/name_f]/ [name_f]Livy[/name_f] are my favorite nick names.
I have an [name_f]Olive[/name_f], she is 2, and we are very happy with her name. She fits it well- is spunky, opinionated but absolutely loving. I think its a gem, that often people may have funny associations with, but it wears very well once you go for it. I know two other Olives, but in other parts of the country. I’m from the [name_u]West[/name_u] Coast.
We call her [name_f]Livy[/name_f] [name_u]Lou[/name_u] (middle name is [name_f]Lucia[/name_f]) and my husband also calls her [name_u]Ollie[/name_u]. She has a tomboy side and loves playing outdoors with daddy. I know many Olivias and the names are very different, so usually there is just an appreciation of both names.
As far as how it will wear as she gets older, she has already been told by her “older” friends that they eat olives. But they think it’s cool and it hasn’t been a problem. I personally don’t eat them, and I also never associate it with her. Her granddaddy calls her [name_f]Olive[/name_f] Oil for fun sometimes, but again, it works and once you know her as [name_f]Olive[/name_f], you love her all over. She will work with it every step of her life.
I also have been teaching high school and junior high for 10 years. Have run into plenty of different names, and honestly, I can’t even recall anyone making fun of each other because of their name. And I have worked with kids from all walks of life. I don’t know, I just don’t think it as big of an issue as some many think on here. One thing to talk about the idea of it, and another to live it. We love her name and wouldn’t change it for the world.
Lastly, the meaning is awesome. Yes it is symbol for peace, but olive branches are often grafted onto older trees to rejuvenate them and keep the alive. The “sweet olive tree” has a wonderful smell (check out sweet olive candles!) and are easy to maintain and beautiful. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps!
My son has a friend named [name_f]Olive[/name_f]. She is a toddler. It fits her perfectly. I can imagine she might go by a nickname as a teen, but maybe not as names are all over the place these days. [name_f]Olive[/name_f] “fits” into sort of hipster/old lady/nature names.
Thanks everyone. LisaMaria and GoodkarmaVt- thanks for sharing your personal experiences with the name. I actually hadn’t thought of the teasing potential of [name_f]Olive[/name_f] until I posted it here, I’m not too intimidated by that though- as so many kids today have other color/nature/word names. But I’m glad to hear that others are having a positive experience with the name. Thanks again!!
[name_f]Olive[/name_f] started as a guilty pleasure for me, but it’s easing into usable territory. My only problem is I know some of my family would think I was crazy for using it, but honestly I love it so much that I wouldn’t care! I’d probably use the [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] nn personally, since the only reason I was ever obsessed with [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] was because I could call him [name_u]Ollie[/name_u].
Also, I think the fact that it’s similar to [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], which is super popular, is what will make it stand out. People may think at first you said [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], but when you correct them it’ll be a surprise.
I don’t like it. Like the poster above, I think of [name_f]Olive[/name_f] Oyl. I really like [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. The “a” at the end makes all the difference to me.
I think [name_f]Olive[/name_f] is a lovely name, and the nn options are adorable. It’s a great spin on the traditional [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] and makes it so much lighter and fun.
I personally wouldn’t use another nature as a middle as it technically a food/tree.
[name_f]Olive[/name_f] I love and have loved it since I was pregnant with my second child, [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] not so much, even before I realized it was in the top 10. There is the Popeye association, but it doesn’t really bother me that much. [name_f]Nor[/name_f] does the food thing either, I probably think of Popeye before I think of food. It is a name I would consider using one day.
I’m not a huge fan of [name_f]Olive[/name_f] but I also dislike [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. My strong associations with the name are [name_f]Olive[/name_f] Oil (Popeye’s girlfriend) and black olives which smell horrible (this is a strong association for me due to an old job).
That being said, those are all personal associations that most likely you or your family will not have. While I personally dislike the name, I can see the appeal to some and if you love it, use it! It’s easy to pronounce and spell so you wouldn’t have to worry about much other than people mishearing you.
[name_f]Olive[/name_f] is absolutely one of my favorite names! I’m seriously considering using it! I just get such a sweet, sweet imagine in my mind and all of the negative associations ([name_f]Olive[/name_f] Oil, actual olives) really don’t outweigh how adorable and gorgeous I find this name. I have a very strong crush on many other “word” names, though, like [name_m]Atlas[/name_m], [name_m]Fox[/name_m], [name_u]Story[/name_u], but [name_f]Olive[/name_f] has been the oldest and strongest crush so far. I don’t find it any weirder than naming your daughter [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f], or [name_f]April[/name_f]. I don’t assume that you chose [name_f]Violet[/name_f] because you’re obsessed with Violets, or you named her [name_f]April[/name_f] because she was born in [name_f]April[/name_f], rather that you saw beyond the surface meaning/connotation of the name and loved it’s meaning, symbolism, or the image you crafted in your head of your future child.
I am personally not a fan of the name [name_f]Olive[/name_f] and I dislike Olives as well. But what matters is that you like it. I personally don’t find [name_f]Olive[/name_f] too old fashioned. I could picture a toddler to an elderly woman with the name [name_f]Olive[/name_f]. I think [name_f]Olive[/name_f] is slowly coming back (I believe its now in the top 1000), so it won’t be considered too out there.
I like [name_f]Olive[/name_f] a lot but will say that I used to think of it as an old lady name. It has grown on me and now it feels modern and refreshing. I would love to meet a little girl named [name_f]Olive[/name_f]!
I find it to be very trendy - likely because it seems very celebrity inspired after quite a few of them used it. It’s kind of a ‘hipster’ name to me if that makes sense.
I’m on the hunt for an old-fashioned name that still feels a bit modern, isn’t too popular, is easy to say and spell, and isn’t too “out there”- so I’m hoping [name_f]Olive[/name_f] is a good fit.
[name_f]Liv[/name_f]/ [name_f]Livy[/name_f] are my favorite nick names.