We just found out we are having a girl. I have loved the name [name_f]Livia[/name_f] for close to 20 years now.
As you know, in the last decade or so, the name [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] has been one of the top 10 names in the US. I am wondering what everyone thinks about the confusion this may cause with the name [name_f]Livia[/name_f].
Nameberry says the name [name_f]Livia[/name_f] sounds like a chopped off version of [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. With this, I do not agree! I think the name [name_f]Livia[/name_f] is distinctive and beautiful on its own. But I am wondering that now that there are so many Olivias running around, do you think she may be accidentally called [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] quite frequently? [name_m]Will[/name_m] I constantly have to say “No, it’s [name_f]Livia[/name_f] without an O.” And do most Olivias go by the nickname [name_f]Liv[/name_f]? (I would be using the nickname [name_f]Liv[/name_f]).
I have loved the name for so long and have always thought it was such a unique name, but now I’m afraid it may get clustered into the mainstream somehow.
I say go for it. You may have to say “No, it’s [name_f]Livia[/name_f] without an O.” over and over again (sorry for not helping here. :p) but I also agree that [name_f]Livia[/name_f] is pretty on its own.
My friend [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] go by [name_f]Olive[/name_f], but yes, I think there are many Olivias nn [name_f]Liv[/name_f] too. But again, if you have love the same name for that long (20 years), I think you have to use it.
My friend’s girlfriend is a [name_f]Livia[/name_f] who goes by [name_f]Liv[/name_f]. I did think he’d said [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] when he first said it though, but after one correction I didn’t forget again.
I love [name_f]Livia[/name_f]. We have [name_f]Livia[/name_f] [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] in our top 8. I have only known two Olivias. One went by [name_u]Ollie[/name_u] and the other went by the full name or [name_f]Livie[/name_f]. I have no concerns about [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] being popular. I have no concerns that people may think that [name_f]Livia[/name_f] is a cut-off version of [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. People will always have their opinions, whether they are right or wrong, about any name. I do not think we would use a nickname, if we did we like [name_f]Livie[/name_f].
I actually prefer the Italian [name_f]Livia[/name_f] to [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. It’s a legitimate spelling not a short form. I think it’s pretty and feminine with a touch of exotic flair. Olivias may be given the nn’s of [name_f]Livia[/name_f], [name_f]Livvy[/name_f], [name_f]Liv[/name_f], [name_f]Olive[/name_f], [name_u]Ollie[/name_u], [name_f]Olia[/name_f], [name_f]Via[/name_f] and [name_f]Vivi[/name_f] but who cares? If you’ve loved the name for so long, I wouldn’t worry about the other Olivias in the world.
I love [name_f]Livia[/name_f] much more than [name_f]Olivia[/name_f]. I think it is whole, complete and lovely on it’s own and I consider it to be a separate name.
[name_f]Livia[/name_f] is beautiful. I would use it. Yes, people will sometimes confuse it with [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] (or with [name_f]Lydia[/name_f]…) but some people just don’t listen and will mix up ANY name with another that’s similar-ish.