View Message

[Opinions] Olive
If you were to give Olive a letter grade, what would it be?Is it usable, in your opinion, or does it sound silly? Do you think a kid bearing this name would be teased? Can you think of any combos/nicknames?Thanks. :)
Archived Thread - replies disabled
vote up1

Replies

A-I like it.
vote up1
'A' for sure! I adore sweet Olive! I think it's very usable. Teasing is certainly a possibility, but I don't think it's so out there that she'd never live it down. It'd be one of those that kids might laugh at when she's younger, but learn to appreciate once they got a little older. She might hate it for a while and think about changing her name in the 6th grade, but by the time she's in 9th grade she will confidently love her name. But so many of us go through that progression anyhow (whether we're teased or not about our names), so why not? I would consider using Olive.
vote up1
I would say A. Maybe a 94%, leaning toward A-. While I like, there is a certain dowdiness to it that would prevent me from using it. Though I'd like it on someone else.
vote up1
A-I like it. The only drawback is it's maybe a bit childish.
vote up1
AIt's got all the things I like in a name. It's old school, it's quirky, it's got cute nickname potential (Ollie, or Liv or Livvy), it's got presence and soul. It's not just pretty syllables. Olive means business. It's gutsy.I don't think it sounds silly. It sounds smart and aware of itself. A kid miiiight get teased because olives are food, and because it is such a serious name (I think Olive is on par with less user-friendly names like Edith, Mildred, and Edna - it has that strength and musk to it). However with other grandma-esque no-nonsense names like Matilda and Henrietta becoming more popular, I think Olive is actually quite fashionable now.For some reason I really want to pair Olive with a red-hot name, something brassy and scrappy, like Olive Ramona, Olive Roxanne, Olive Eliza, Olive Rita, Olive Harriet, Olive Ida, Olive Lola, Olive Nell, Olive Alberta. I don't know, some of those are pretty clunky, but that's how I see Olive.
vote up1
Teasing potential??I've noticed people mentioning that there is a lot of teasing potential for this name and I'm just curious to hear what you think it is. I know Olive Oyl would be the first, most obvious reference but I SERIOUSLY doubt any young kids even know who she is. What else is there to be teased about??
vote up1
Olives.
vote up1
But what's so bad about Olives? I just don't see how it's any different from Brandy, Paige, Chase, Cole or any other names that can be twisted into words --- Isabelle (is a bell), Sofia (sofa), Bailey (hay bales), Clair (eclair), etc.
vote up1
I get what you mean...there's nothing wrong with olives themselves. Well, actually, I can't stand the green ones or the authentic Greek ones. I've loved the canned black ones since I was little, but many kids think olives are just gross. For me, the main teasing concern is the possibility that many would react to Olive the same way so many people reacted to Apple when Gwyneth Paltrow chose it. Apples are lovely, not a thing wrong with them. But a LOT of people saw it as a REALLY dumb thing to name a person.Of course, Olive has a leg up which Apple didn't...the name Olivia is very similar, so people are already used to hearing those sounds as a name, AND they may also remember Olive Oyl and have Olive filed as a first name from that association.
vote up1
I don't think it's necessary to make a reference or change the name at all in the case of Olive. It could just be hurtful to have other kids say things like "olives are gross" or "your name's a food". I don't think there would be teasing for sure, but I feel like there would at least be some comments.
vote up1
I give it a C+. It's all right, but I don't really get the appeal. It's definitely usable, though.Liv is a good nickname.Olive Caroline
Olive Cordelia
Olive Josephine
Olive Marian / Marianne
Olive Matilda
Olive Joanna
Olive Marina
Olive Katherine (I think OK would be cool initials!)
Olive Beatrix
vote up1
B
Because I like it a lot but people generally say that it either sounds old or they say "...in a dry martini?" which would really get on my nerves if it were mine or my daughter's name.
vote up1
B-I like the way it sounds, I like saying it, I kind of think its quirky cute and spunky but I wouldn't name my daughter this...yes a lot of teasing potential and there are so many prettier girls names out there.
I don't know, I wouldn't call it silly though.Ollie, Liv, Livy - cute nicknames
vote up1
I'd give Olive a solid "B". I'm not in love with her, but I certainly like her. I find her sleek, with a quirky elegance, if that makes any sense. Love "Liv" for short. The tease-potential is definitely there, or I'd be tempted to give her an "A". There's also the association to Popeye's gal, Olive Oyl, if anyone nowadays even sees those cartoons. I'm digging Olivine even more (thanks, Ismene!) so she gets a "B+"...a bit less likely to be thought of as food.I suggested Olivine Helena earlier, but I think Olive Helena is lovely too. Let's see...Olive Marcelline - think twice before you tease her!
Olive Marianne
Olive Francine
Olive Elinor - super sleek
Olive Georgina - earthy
Olive Joanna
Olive Dorothea
Olive Adelaide
Olive Adele
vote up1
Olive Elinor is the bees knees! hahaha
seriously it's great!
vote up1
No problem! I'm loving Olivine too! I'm currently pretty head over heels for Gwyneth Olivine - thanks to your Olivine Gwyneth suggestion :)
vote up1
I'd give Olive a B-. I think it's perfectly usable, but it might sound a little old-fashioned still. I don't think a child named this would be teased any more than any other kid. They might be called Olive Oil a bit, but that's not that bad. Ollie or Liv make good nicknames.Olive Maria
Olive Isabel
Olive Serena
Olive Bethany
Olive Eleanor
vote up1
FI love olives as a food, but not as a name.Nn's-Liv and OllieCombosOlive Helena
Olive Freya
Olive Athena
Olive Alexandra
vote up1
I agree. Olivia is gorgeous, Olive is a food. :(
vote up1
C+I really think that it'll soon be a replacement for Olivia. I already know of two baby Olives.
vote up1
eh, C+. I feel like so many people really like this and I just don't get it. I don't find anything about it appealing: the sound, the food, the color, etc. It's not the worst name I have ever heard, but I certainly don't like it.
vote up1
Ditto.
vote up1
A++I've been loving Olive even more lately! And I love the idea of nn Liv :)My current combo is Olive Marjorie but I sometimes fear it may be a bit too "stale"Maybe something like...Olive Natalie
Olive Regan
Olive Hannelore
Olive Simone
Olive Juliette
Olive Abigail
Olive Megara
Olive Delaney
Olive Catriona
Olive Gwendoline

This message was edited 5/11/2011, 6:37 PM

vote up1
I would give it and A- because even though I really like it and don't think it sounds silly, I do think a kid with this name would get teased. I still think it's usable, but I would give it a pretty standard middle name, probably even something sort of trendy, just as another option.Olive Alannah
Olive Brianna
Olive Caroline
Olive Cassandra
Olive Evangeline
Olive Fiona
Olive Madeleine
Olive Nathalia
Olive Penelope
Olive Rebekah
Olive Renee
Olive Rosalie
vote up1
F. I do not like the name Olive at alllll.Even so...Olive Nicole
Olive Janeen
Olive CarissaI can't think of any more. It's hard to make a combo with.
vote up1
D-
I think it's usable, but I think it sounds silly. I think there is a big window
of teasin potential, and kids are very creative. As for nn's, being 1 syllable there are
no make shift nicknames like Mike or Dave, and I think nicknames come naturally once a child has the name, so I never think about them. Combos: (i'd pair it with a common middle name)
Olive Renee
Olive Carissa
Olive Alyssa
Olive Nora
Olive Kayley
Olive Skyler
Olive Bailey
Olive Emily
vote up1
Maybe Liv could be a nickname?
vote up1
I love the name Liv so much so yes!
vote up1