Getting to Dolly

I’ve posted about my love for the name [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] before - DH doesn’t like it, though it was his grandmother’s name (pet name for [name_f]Diamond[/name_f]), but I love it for the familial connection and (if I’m honest) because I love [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] [name_m]Parton[/name_m] (for her service and trailblazing and leadership, and because I’m a native to her home state).

Full disclosure: I also just watched Dumplin’ on Netflix in which she and her music are central so I’m reeeeally invested in figuring out how to get [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] as a name.

I really like the idea of using [name_f]Olive[/name_f] as a way to get there, especially if it was a middle for a “d” first name (i.e. [name_u]Darby[/name_u] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]). The problem here though is that her initials would be DOO and I cannot/will not do that to my child.

So, what suggestions do you have for [name_f]Dolly[/name_f]? Should I just try to use it as a pet name? Is there a name that the nickname [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] could naturally come from (aside from [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f] because I just really don’t love that name)? Could [name_f]Olive[/name_f] as a first name be affectionately called [name_f]Dolly[/name_f]?

HELP!

Yes, I think [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] can be a nn for any name. [name_f]Olive[/name_f] works well as fn.

What about [name_u]Darby[/name_u] [name_f]Olive[/name_f] SecondMiddle O___ like [name_u]Darby[/name_u] [name_f]Olive[/name_f] [name_f]Maxine[/name_f] O___

or have a d at second syllable:
[name_f]Ondine[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Nadia[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]

[name_f]Dulcinea[/name_f]
[name_f]Dolores[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f]

I love [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Dahlia[/name_f]!

My first thought for getting to [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] would be names ending in [name_f]Dora[/name_f], like [name_f]Theodora[/name_f] or [name_f]Isadora[/name_f] - or just [name_f]Dora[/name_f] itself. [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] would also be an obvious contender.

[name_f]Darlene[/name_f]
[name_m]Donnell[/name_m]
[name_f]Delilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Madeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]

[name_f]Dorothy[/name_f]
[name_f]Dolores[/name_f]
[name_f]Delilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f] [name_f]Lily[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]/[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] (my fave)
[name_f]Lenore[/name_f] D…
[name_f]Olivia[/name_f] D…
[name_f]Delia[/name_f]
[name_f]Edith[/name_f] [name_f]Molly[/name_f]

Or just have [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] as the middle name, which would be my approach!

I’ve heard [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Dolores[/name_f], [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] and [name_f]Daria[/name_f] and I think that they are all so lovely!

I was going to suggest [name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f] but someone beat me to it! You might also consider names that end in the ‘d’ sound with olive like…

[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Ingrid[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_u]Holland[/name_u] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]MIldred[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Marigold[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Rosemond[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]
[name_f]Winifred[/name_f] [name_f]Olive[/name_f]

I feel like [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] is the kind of nickname that stands alone and doesn’t necessarily need a connection to a child’s given name. That said, I think the long O in [name_f]Olive[/name_f] is a fun tie in.

Other ideas… [name_u]Dominique[/name_u], [name_f]Dorit[/name_f], [name_f]Devorah[/name_f], [name_u]Delaney[/name_u], [name_u]Dillon[/name_u]

[name_f]Dolora[/name_f] nn [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] would work well

[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f]
[name_f]Dorothy[/name_f]
[name_f]Theodora[/name_f]
[name_f]Madeleine[/name_f]
[name_f]Dolores[/name_f]

Thanks for the suggestions! Not sure if any of these are quite clicking - I adore [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f] but that’s a battle I won’t win with DH.

I’m liking [name_f]Olive[/name_f] most because it’s a name he likes and also because I could see him calling her “[name_u]Ollie[/name_u]” which could end up “[name_f]Dolly[/name_f]” with my encouragement (lol!).

I may have to squash the [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] fantasy when push comes to shove.

But come on, how cute are [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] & [name_f]Dolly[/name_f] as sisters?!

My niece is named [name_u]Holland[/name_u] and we call her [name_f]Holly[/name_f] [name_f]Dolly[/name_f].

[name_f]Theodosia[/name_f] is one that I haven’t seem mentioned yet.

[name_f]Magdalena[/name_f]
[name_f]Maddalena[/name_f]
[name_f]Dolora[/name_f]
[name_f]Adeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Delilah[/name_f]
[name_f]Siddalee[/name_f]
[name_f]Odette[/name_f]
[name_f]Odilia[/name_f]
[name_f]Pandora[/name_f]

I believe [name_f]Dolores[/name_f], [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], and [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f] are the usual suspects.