[name_m]Just[/name_m] wondering what the opinions surrounding the name [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] are lately? It’s a name that I have always liked, but I dont see it mentioned very much in these forums.
I know that it is popular on the top lists, but as a teacher (from Toronto, [name_f]Canada[/name_f]), I dont actually see the name that often (and I dont think I’ve ever seen two [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]'s in one class either)! [name_m]How[/name_m] common do you guys find it in your particular area?
I’m from Greece, so I can’t really speak about the Olivias in my area. It’s not an established name here. But I will say that I’ve been seeing so much of it on the internet (social media mostly, you can’t scroll through your feed without seeing an [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]) that I’m a bit sick of it. I do like [name_f]Olive[/name_f] though.
To be honest, this is a name that was so popular throughout my life that I really didn’t take time to realize how nice the sound is until a couple years ago. It just always seemed so common and I found it boring so I didn’t really think about it. As I said though, the sound is pretty.
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f] has always been popular to me amongst my age group and then amongst the kids i teach at work so if im honest it doesn’t feel special. I mean, it’s nice enough, sensible, versatile with some cute nn options, but I’ve known of so many
I know pretty many, both my age (teenager), and young kids. It’s definitely become boring to me, although not as bad as [name_f]Emma[/name_f]/[name_f]Emily[/name_f]. I much much prefer [name_f]Olive[/name_f], or just [name_f]Liv[/name_f], or even [name_f]Livia[/name_f].
It’s pretty common in my circles in the eastern U.S. but I do think it is a good, pretty, and grounded name that lends itself to several nice nicknames, but does not require one. I have on occasion seen two Olivias in a class, but other names ([name_f]Caroline[/name_f], [name_f]Claire[/name_f], [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]) are even more well-used where I am.
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f] is a lovely name although I’ve never been in love with it. I find “O” names generally quite appealing but would say I’m desensitised to this one from its overuse. Popularity always seems to dampen my attraction towards a name anyway and in Australia [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] is still very popular. I know plenty of children with the name.
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f] seems way less popular in [name_f]Canada[/name_f], so that may skew your impression a bit. In the US, it was #2 in 2018, while I think it was #18 in [name_f]Canada[/name_f]–I had trouble finding statistics, but that is what I read in a couple of different places. Still popular, but less so. I think for me, it’s more like everyone knows at least one family with an [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] that’s 20 or younger. I can think of three that I have met personally, and have seen several at work (healthcare). However, even at #2, it was used on less than 1% of female babies born in 2018, so it’s still not as widely used as [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], or [name_f]Linda[/name_f], or [name_f]Patricia[/name_f], from generations before, which also makes it seems relatively less popular than if you’re just looking at the list.
I don’t need my children’s names to be completely unique, but I would like them to feel special for me, and I know too many Olivias to get excited about saying it for the rest of my life. That being said, I do think it’s beautiful and I suggest it if I think it fits someone’s criteria. I have elders named [name_f]Olive[/name_f] and [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], so it very well may be a future daughter’s middle name.
We are having our first daughter in 2 weeks. And she will be named [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. I had no idea of it’s popularity until I started reading baby name forums. We didn’t know a single one! I am apprehensive of its popularity and plan to call her [name_f]Olive[/name_f] and [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] as well. (So there will be options if she is in class with another [name_f]Olivia[/name_f].) But, we love the name! And are sticking with it. Despite the popularity! Now the middle names are still an issue …
I’m in the UK, and it’s very popular where I live. I know many Olivias and it’s also a family name for me. While there are definitely other names I love more, I plan to use it as a middle on a potential future daughter. It’s a pretty name with loads of nickname potential, so I’d say go for it!
My daughter is [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], and we’re outside a major city on the [name_f]East[/name_f] Coast in the US. We’ve met a total of 4 other Olivias and heard of 3 others (friends of friends of friends kids, type of thing). She is in a large preschool and takes dance classes, and there has never been another [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] that we’ve run into. The popularity 100% worried me but it has not (yet?) been any issue for us. My friends who are teachers report more Avas, Charlottes and Harpers. I’ve met more Pipers, Theos, Scarletts, and Penelopes than Olivias. I think it just depends on where you live. If you love the name and it feels right, then I would use it. I used to be very concerned about popularity, until I was pregnant and realized I was most concerned about finding the right name. She is perfectly [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], and I would never change her name if I had to do it over.
If you just listen to the name itself, I think it’s a really pretty name. However, it’s super popular in the US. I’ve gotten bored with it. It’s right up there with names like [name_f]Ava[/name_f], [name_f]Emma[/name_f]/[name_f]Emily[/name_f], [name_f]Ella[/name_f]/[name_f]Ellie[/name_f], [name_f]Madelyn[/name_f]/[name_f]Maddy[/name_f], etc. It’s a shame, but it’s reality. Growing up with a super common name for my generation, I was never just referred to by my first name; it was always my first and last name because there were several in my grade and even more in my whole school. I absolutely hated it so I always take that into account. It still happens to this day in my workplace. I would consider it as a middle name but never a first. I wouldn’t want my kids to go through what I did and still do.