We are considering [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] if this one’s a boy–I really like it and I think it goes well with DD’s name, which is [name_f]Cecily[/name_f]. My only worry is that it’s going to get a lot more popular than number 32, which is what it’s at now. 32 is a bit too popular for comfort for me, but I’m willing to overlook if I really like the name and I consider [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] somewhat a classic so hopefully a bit less trendy than some names. But do you think it will rise substantially? I know it’s like number 1 in the UK now, which doesn’t bode well, and I wouldn’t want it to go the way of [name_f]Olivia[/name_f] which is a lovely name but one I’d never use now because there are just too many of them. We don’t want our [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] to be the 3rd or 4th one in his kindergarten class.
Thoughts?!?!
I do love the name [name_m]Oliver[/name_m]. I’m personally okay with a popularity ranking of 32 for a name I really love, but It’s hard to say whether or not it will end up in the top 10 which would make it undesirable to me. Let’s look at [name_u]Noah[/name_u], the current number 1 name. It broke into the top 100 in 1995, It was number 31 in 2003, and hit the top 10 in 2009. Will [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] follow a similar pattern? Let’s compare the 2 names:
Year/ Rank [name_u]Noah[/name_u] / Rank [name_m]Oliver[/name_m]
2014/ 1 / 32
2013/ 1 / 52
2012/ 4 / 73
2011/ 5 / 78
2010/ 7 / 88
2009/ 9 / 98
2008/ 15 / 118
2007/ 14 / 140
2006/ 15 / 173
2005/ 23 / 209
2004/ 29 / 228
2003/ 31 / 245
2002/ 31 / 268
2001/ 28 / 299
2000/ 27 / 305
1999/ 24 / 340
1998/ 29 / 356
1997/ 38 / 367
1996/ 50 / 387
1995/ 99 / 393
I see [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] as rising at a much slower pace. This makes it less likely that it would hit number 1, at least in my mind. I just like names and numbers, so this was fun
I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] - it’s my favorite boy’s name. Unfortunately, I do think it will continue to climb in the rankings. [name_m]Will[/name_m] it reach the top 10? I don’t know, but I definitely think its popularity will increase. At least it is a classic.
Also, popularity can vary widely by state. A few state rankings for [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] in 2014:
[name_f]Arizona[/name_f]: 32
[name_f]Florida[/name_f]: 48
Illinois: 34
Mississippi: 89
[name_u]Montana[/name_u]: 15
South [name_f]Carolina[/name_f]: 68
[name_u]Texas[/name_u]: 65
[name_m]New[/name_m] [name_u]Jersey[/name_u]: 73
[name_m]Vermont[/name_m]: 3
[name_m]Washington[/name_m]: 9
Another very interesting set of numbers, I’d say!
I love [name_m]Oliver[/name_m], but I do think it will continue to rise in Popularity.
Ooh I love all these stats! We’re in NYC and while I haven’t specifically met any little boys here with that name, I’m sure there are loads around. I agree that I don’t think it will be #1, but I could also see it cracking the top 10 which would make it undesirable for me as well. I would have predicted that [name_u]Noah[/name_u] would rise in popularity but I don’t think I would have predicted it would be #1, which is what scares me a tad about [name_m]Oliver[/name_m]! Thanks for the replies.
I love [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] too! It has been a favorite of mine for about 10 years. We are having a boy, and I decided to put [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] in middle place position. There have been a lot of [name_m]Oliver[/name_m]'s born that I know in the past few years and I do think it will be more popular.