Olive vs. Olivia?

Girl Names
1

For the longest time (going on four years now, at least), Olivia’s been a fixture on my list. I love its strong femininity, its Shakespearean connection (Twelfth Night is probably one of my top 5 literary works ever)–it’s feminine, but not frilly, and I absolutely adore the nn Liv. I like the undertones of peace, as well, with the olive branch, and, of course, I could use the nn Olive–I don’t have to just stick to Olivia/Liv.

Lately, though, just Olive has been growing on me a lot. I love the same peaceful associations via the olive branch, and I love how natural, spunky, and unexpected Olive is, and it seems so much more fresh and lively than Olivia (much as I still love it). I recently had a dream that I had a little Olive, and she was everything I had ever imagined a future daughter of mine would be like, and I can really see myself with an Olive, so I think that’s half of its appeal to me at the moment. Although if I switched to Olive, I would sorely miss the Shakespearean connection. :frowning:

If you had to pick, which would you fancy? I’ve heard the “Olivia’s horrid popularity” and “Olive’s just an ugly green/an unattractive piece of food” arguments dozens of times, I understand that a lot of people feel that way about one or both, but both are very close to my heart and neither concern bothers me in the slightest. I would just love to hear which one you prefer, and maybe even why, and which goes best with my other favorites in my signature.

Also, any combo suggestions? I have tossed around a few ideas, but most don’t seem to have the same general feel as my other combos. I love names like Georgiana, Felicity, Phoebe, etc., but I don’t really feel something like Olive Georgiana _____ would fit in that well with Isabelle Aurora Grace, Arianne Eleanor Kate, Violet Ophelia Claire, Liliana Odette Pearl, Eleni Giovanna Kate, Hannah Caroline Eve, etc. My Olivia combo is Olivia Wren Camille, but I don’t find Olive Wren Camille quite as appealing–maybe it’s the juxtaposition of a food and a type of bird. :slight_smile:

Thanks, ladies!

2

[name]Olivia[/name] is one of my favorite names. I love to use the nns [name]Liv[/name] or [name]Libby[/name]. However, due to its popularity, I will not be using. As for [name]Olive[/name], its cute, but I would rather go with [name]Olivia[/name] - its more feminine and has a stronger appeal in my opinion.
Some suggestions…
[name]Olivia[/name] [name]Katherine[/name] [name]Mae[/name]
[name]Olivia[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
[name]Olivia[/name] [name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Rose[/name]
[name]Olivia[/name] [name]Emmaline[/name] [name]Claire[/name]

3

[name]Even[/name] though most people I know hate it, I absolutely adore [name]Olive[/name]. I also get the responses about how Olive will always be just the food/olive oil/[name]Olive[/name] Oyl/an ugly color. I love [name]Olivia[/name] but there’s just something about [name]Olive[/name]. I love that [name]Olive[/name] is as soft and sweet as it is spunky,quirky, and vintage. I personally know an [name]Olive[/name] [name]Jade[/name] (named after her great grandmother) and she is a sweetheart. She’s always happy ,smiling,strong,and super smart with a great personality. Which is actually what I’d imagine an [name]Olive[/name] to be like. :] It’d be refreshing to see more Olives running around. The only downside of [name]Olive[/name] to me (besides the usual negative responses people give me) is that because [name]Olivia[/name] is so popular,she might spend a lot of her life explaining that her name is just [name]Olive[/name], and not [name]Olivia[/name]. But I think [name]Olive[/name] is a gorgeous name that deserves more love.

I do love the nickname [name]Olive[/name] for [name]Olivia[/name] though. I know an [name]Olivia[/name] in my class nn [name]Olive[/name]/Olives by others.

I personally prefer [name]Olive[/name] (I don’t know if you could tell,haha) but I think [name]Olivia[/name] works better with all of the other names in your signature. And there’s a reason why it’s so insanely popular. It’s a beautiful name,perfect really, and all of the wonderful attributes you listed, like the Shakespearean one, make an already gorgeous name even more beautiful.

Hmm, I can’t think of any combos at the moment.I remember briefly of [name]Louisa[/name] [name]Olive[/name] [name]Jane[/name] for a daughter, but I’m not sure if I really like [name]Olive[/name] [name]Louisa[/name] [name]Jane[/name] for you. I’ll have to think about it! :slight_smile:

4

I prefer [name]Olivia[/name]. I like [name]Livia[/name], too. So that’s the side of it I’m coming from. I like the soft and flowing quality.

I like the concept of [name]Olive[/name]; I adore [name]Hazel[/name] and [name]Ivy[/name] and those sorts of vintage nature names. But [name]Olive[/name] gets lost amongst them, on my list. It could work fine on someone else’s.

I really like [name]Opal[/name], and I am nutty for botanicals, so [name]Olive[/name] feels like I SHOULD be crazy for it, but I’m just… not… really.

I feel like [name]Olive[/name] if I were using it, wants something a bit spunkier (not modern/invented). Like [name]Olive[/name] [name]Ariadne[/name] or [name]Olive[/name] [name]Circe[/name]… still antique, but a bit odd, too. [name]Olive[/name] [name]Xanthe[/name] [name]Blythe[/name]? I dunno, I’m free-associating, sorry.

5

[name]LOVE[/name] [name]Olive[/name]!!

[name]Olive[/name] [name]Camille[/name] [name]Wren[/name] perhaps??

[name]Olive[/name] [name]Felicity[/name] [name]Wren[/name] is gorgeous too. :slight_smile:

~[name]Jasmine[/name]

6

I know several [name]Olivia[/name]'s, which rather puts me off the name.
I’d choose [name]Olive[/name] as it sounds a bit more quaint & vintage.

7

I prefer [name]Olivia[/name]. If a name I really loved became popular I would use it anyway I think.

8

I think [name]Olivia[/name] fits better in your list than [name]Olive[/name], and I’m biased. :stuck_out_tongue:

Really, I think [name]Olivia[/name] nn [name]Liv[/name] and [name]Olive[/name] is a great compromise for you.

9

[name]Olive[/name] wins this one for me, by quite some way.

I don’t like [name]Olivia[/name] at all.

10

I’m torn, as they are family names for me. My great grandmother and mother have the middle name [name]Olive[/name], which growing up I thoughtwas boring and fusty sounding. I was always happy that mum combined both of great grandma’s names to give me the “girlier” middle name [name]Olivia[/name].

But I’m finding my opinion of [name]Olive[/name] is changing, and now it sound less fusty to me and more elegant and grown up.

I still adore [name]Olivia[/name] though - just not keen that it is so popular in Australia now!

11

[name]Olive[/name] is amazing! I love it x

12

My best friend named her daughter [name]Olive[/name] and she has gotten nothing but rave reviews on the name! Everyone loves it. Men, women, old, young. Especially younger people (our age - 20s) think the name is great. I do happen to think it’s a breath of fresh air from the over-done [name]Olivia[/name], but that’s just my personal opinion.

I love [name]Olive[/name]'s unique quality. The name doesn’t make me think of the food or the color. It just is an earthy, soft name that I think is beautiful on a baby girl.

13

Oh, I agree completely. :slight_smile: I was an [name]Ashley[/name] in the late 80s, and I have no qualms about the popularity of my name–I actually love it. And popularity these days is so much less of an issue than it was back in the 80s/90s, even, since name choices are so much more varied. If [name]Olivia[/name] was what I loved, that’s definitely what I’d go for. I’m just not sure which I love anymore!

@wink - thanks for your suggestions, but if I go with [name]Olivia[/name], I’m very set (atm, at least!) on [name]Olivia[/name] [name]Wren[/name] [name]Camille[/name]. I was quite tempted by [name]Olivia[/name] [name]Eleanor[/name] [name]Rose[/name], though! I love [name]Olivia[/name] and [name]Eleanor[/name] separately, and [name]Rose[/name] would honor family for me. :slight_smile: I’m just so in love with [name]Olivia[/name] [name]Wren[/name] [name]Camille[/name] as an [name]Olivia[/name] combo, though!

14

I do not find [name]Olive[/name] appealing in any way, but that’s just my opinion, lol! Despite the fact it is food, I just don’t care for it. I don’t really compare it [name]Olivia[/name]. They look similar, yes, but to me that’s it. [name]One[/name] of the reasons I used to like spelling [name]Olivia[/name] with an A( I know it’s such a shameful thing!!) is because I didn’t like looking at [name]Olivia[/name] and thinking “It looks similar to [name]Olive[/name]”. :slight_smile: Besides all that, to me [name]Olivia[/name] definitely fits much better with your other name choices. I think you could definitely use [name]Olive[/name] as a nn for [name]Olivia[/name] though if you really love it!

15

[name]Olivia[/name], [name]Olive[/name] as a nm.

16

They’re different names.

[name]Olivia[/name] is flowy and girly and romantic and possibly a bit flippant and mean girl.

[name]Olive[/name] is quirky, intellectual, sassy and possibly a bit nonconformist and bossy.

I don’t think [name]Olive[/name] works as a nn for [name]Olivia[/name] because they are so different.

17

I love [name]Olive[/name]. She sounds so vintage, and feminine without being frilly.
[name]Olive[/name] [name]Eleni[/name] is nice, to use a name from your favorites list.