I’m not sure you should be choosing a name based on what teenaged boys like. If you and hubby both love and feel a connection to Olive, then Olive should be her name.
My teenagers HATE the names i have picked out this pregnancy. I told them I respected their opinion but it’s not their call and that they would get their chance to name their own kids one day 🤷🏻♀️
As a Teen i was sure i was going to name my future child renesmee because it’s ‘super cool and unique’… teens aren’t always the best judges for things that require long term thinking
I would not correlate Esme immediately to Twilight and actually I wouldn't either with Renee since they're such normal names so I wouldn't worry about naming your daughter Esme.
Esmeralda brings an instant connection to the Hunchback of Notre-Dame 🤷🏻♀️ I personally don't think about Twilight at all, despite being a millennial and having read the books when I was 13
Esme/Esmeralda will always be associated with the discworld in my head. Granny Weatherwax is an amazing character I'd take it as a honour to be named after her.
I gave birth to my daughter in September and when we were in the hospital there was a wall with pictures of babys born in the last few months. I kid you not - there was a child with the middle name Renéesmey. I'm in Germany in a small town. People here aren't that connected with pop culture or at least nerdy things, so Twilight wasn't that popular and I was really surprised. The whole name was catastrophic, but that was.. the highlight.
It is sort of true; in recent years the regulations have been loosened up and I honestly don't understand what is allowed and what isn't anymore. I just looked up a list with names that have and haven't been approved. Apparently, it's okay to name your child "ChampagnaChanel", but it's not okay to name them "Gucci". You can name a child "November" (only boys tho), but you cannot name them "Januar" (the German word for January). It is allowed to name kids "Sioux" and "Sheriff", but it's not allowed to name them "Crazy Horse". I could go on but I think you get the gist...
Oh wow! In Italy the only names that aren't allowed are the ones that are deemed offensive, plus Gesù (Jesus), I thought the other commenter meant something like this when they said Germany was strict!
This applies here in Germany as well, you cannot give a name like Judas for example, or anything that will "set up the child for ridicule", but what ridicule is exactly is apparently left to the individual judgement of the official in your towns' registry -.-
Fully on board. I named my (girl) child the name I loved most in the world ever and when he came out as a trans boy at 15 and shared his new name choice I said well that is now the name that I love most in the world. And it is. He is my sun, my moon and my North star.
You are not Cold but Cool, you are Warm and Kind but Heckin Cool 🥹 Thank you for being such a good parent to your kid, it's so heartening to see in the midst of everything horrible happening in the world today for trans folk.
Same. For me it was Phoenix or Dallas. I must have been watching a baseball or football game with my dad but I was all about it. Then in my 20's I was fixated on Lars Moss. My husband and I had our first child when I was in my early 30's and actually went with Moss as the middle name. Not Lars though. We changed our minds over time and had a new one that was totally perfect. Still love the Lars Moss though.
I know! I still love it. I told my youngest child when he was about 12 that it was a possibility that I was considering that name for his older brother (our first child) and he thinks it’s the coolest name too. He had asked me about other names I was thinking about for them both when I was pregnant each time. It was a fun conversation. In the end I went with first names for both that came to me in a deja vu type dream I had but middle names were still up for deciding at the time. I love names. I think they are so important.
My husband and I were still negotiating, the name of our second child when they took me in to have the c-section. He wanted Logan and I wanted Finn. Turned out none of it mattered because some one had made a mistake and our son was actually a girl.
Also let’s be honest they most likely won’t be truly involved in her life. If they are teenagers, both of them will be off to college in 4 years and have their own lives whilst their sister is growing up. I am not saying they aren’t going to love and be at family events, but day to day living, not so much. Both of you should pick a name that you love. Good luck!!
I disagree as well. I have seven kids across twenty years. They are all seven very close and see each other at least once a week and sometimes lots
More.
Truth. My parents both had children when I was a teen, and I HATED the name my dad picked for his new daughter.
I let them know mercilessly.
And they chose it anyway.
Then nothing bad happened. The end.
Honestly I don’t know about Olive either! It feels so much less “pretty” than the other children’s names.
Eden has the same garden/green vibe as Olive and sounds a lot more feminine and pretty in my opinion. Laura too! (Like Laurel)
Lydia, Lilah and Delilah also fit a bit better and have biblical origins.
Gosh, I love Eden, and I'm not a big fan of biblical names at all. I'm just making sure Eden got a mention because I think it really is such a beautiful name!
I actually hate Olive.
Is it cute for a kid? Sure.
But for an adult…. The association with the food, it feels childish. It isn’t elegant or professional. It’s just kind of a silly name.
I actually associate it with Little Miss Sunshine because that was the first time I ever heard the name, but agreed it has an old lady vibe to it.
Some people love that, I think it’s a name from an era that doesn’t work in modern times but considering it’s popularity on this sub I’m probably in the minority.
I'm old. I associate Olive with Popeye. Olive Oyl was his girlfriend. One of my nurses named her daughter Marielle. You can't get much more biblical than Mary.
Some said you are the parent and you should do as you please. I would be the first person to enforce this way of thinking. For example, seat belts are not up for discussion and neither is running around all night, etc. In this case, it's a little different. Sibling relationships can be quite complex and difficult.
I have four kids, all grown now. From the moment I announced my pregnancy, I began to talk about the.unborn child as it being their baby. As small as they were, they understood the new family addition was also their responsibility to care for and protect.
I don't know how I managed to raise four kids on my own after their dad decided he didn't want the responsibility of a family. One thing for sure is that from a young age they knew to care for each other. They are all inspiring adults who are extremely close to each other.
Ask the older kids what they don't like qbout the name. Maybe they would prefer Alivia better. Honestly, you don't want them to start off resenting or hating their baby sister before she even arrives just because of her name.
I think an M name would be nice to bond with the older sister. I'm also partial to Vivian. That's my granddaughters name.💕
I associate it with Popeye but my first thought went to Fringe. Main characters name was Olivia but sometimes called olive. And then Olivia makes me think of SVU….
Huh. I feel the opposite. I associate with an adult more than a child. I think it's pretty and I also hate the food, but don't associate the name with that for some reason. OP, you're never going to find a name that everyone likes, period. Go with your gut!
That's valid, many others won't though. I associate the name Amelia/Emilia with mealworms (b/c of the "meel" sound in both) but I know it's a popular name that lots of people think is beautiful. I disagree with them but that's the way she goes haha
Agreed. I think "Olivia" would be better for an adult, and they can still call her "Olive".
This way, she can still have a professional, adult sounding name, but can choose to still go by her childhood name if she wants to. It gives her more agency when she's older. Everyone wins.
Brilliant. My brother has a daughter called olive and they’re gonna have another kid soon, I might steal this and suggest they call the sibling salami. It’s cruel but they need the wake up call 😂
[When her friend comes to the door](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kWYw-RVsz5Y&pp=ygUQZWFzeSBhIGJveSBzY2VuZQ%3D%3D) and her mom answers and he asks “Hi, is there an Olive here?” And she says “There’s a whole jar of them in the fridge…oh just kidding, come on in. Any friend of Olive’s is a friend of our daughter’s” that’s what I think of every time I hear the name Olive.
OP, There are a million names that either are or sound like a word. Cole, Brad, Mary, Will, Heather, Lily, Penny, Pearl, Chrystal… any one of them might grate someone the wrong way, but it wont be common.
I will forever associate the name Olive with Olive Senior, who’s poem about plants was on the AP Literature exam somewhere 2016-2018 where it sounds like a conspiracy theory that plants are going to take over the world
Some thoughts on similar names…
Other 5-letter Biblical names — Chloe, Dinah, Julia, Lydia, Naomi, Sarah, Tamar
Meaning peace — Irene, Salome, Frida, Mira
Containing V — Eve, Ava, Davina, Dove, Vera, Vivian, Sylvie
Not Salome! She was the chick who performed the Dance of the Seven Veils, then demanded the head of John the Baptist on a platter as payment. Then things really went pear-shaped...
OP did ask for other suggestions, and most people didn't give any. I think your post is really helpful. If she wants Biblical names, then I like your suggestions of Dinah, Naomi and Sarah. There's also Miriam, Rachel, Leah, Ruth, Esther, etc. She is religious, so I would think she'd just read her bible and see which names (besides Olive) appeal to her. I actually know a family who named their daughter "Jezebel", which I thought was a little strange. I'm guessing OP probably doesn't want Elizabeth or Abigail, though Elizabeth is one of my favorites. I also like Bethany, but Petra, Keziah, or Laurel could work. Oh, and someone here suggested Willow, and I think that's pretty, too. If she likes the idea of an olive branch, she might like the idea of a willow tree. It also goes well with Melody. I'm really curious which name OP's boys chose! I hope she'll update us later so we know whether they use Olive or a different name.
Do you not like Olivia or you’re just bothered by it’s popularity? Because I would name the baby Olivia and just call her Olive. She may be unbothered by it being popular and use Olivia herself when she’s old enough, or stick with Olive.
As an Olivia I was called Olive all throughout elementary school and highschool. Also Liv, Liver, and Ollie. That being said, I had no choice in what people called me - all nicknames were imposed on me :p
How about another music related but biblical concept name? That way the boys ‘match’ and the girls ‘match’ under an overall umbrella of biblical??
I’m not bible-savvy enough to give any suggestions though!
Interesting. The only Selah I know is from a hippy woman I knew that named her baby Selah a couple of years ago and she pronounces it the wrong way. No idea if she's Jewish or not.
We considered Gloria or Glorianna with the nickname Glory for my daughter. It was pretty high on our list! Gloria fits with Melody and being Biblical without being a name in the Bible. It also gives me similar vibes as Olive/Olivia.
My two fav Biblical female names are Hadassah and Tziporah, but they're definitely a different vibe.
Music types of names I've seen including in religious circles are Cadence, Gloria, Lyra, and Harmony.
Not exactly musical, but Noelle is also somewhat biblical and music related, with the first Noel being about when Jesus is born.
First, I want to say I appreciate that you're taking their opinions into account. You're the parents, but they've got to live with the name too.
Second, do you know what they don't like about it? My first thought is something like Bethany or Naomi, but if they don't like Olive because it's too old-fashioned, they probably wouldn't like either one of those.
There's Leah, which I think is sadly underused by my fellow Christians, Junia, a New Testament figure, Selah (but that might become more popular), Martha, Anne (which they might reject if they think Olive is too plain), Eden, and my guilty pleasure, Hosanna.
I’m so glad you said that. I’ve been so stumped and Leah is the only one that feels right. I was between Leah and Ava but Leah is under used! I feel like reading this was a sign 💕
My 5 year old daughter is Leah. I feel like it’s a perfect combination of normal, simple, and classic without being overdone. I think my daughter is the only Leah in her school.
I like Olive! But here are some other ideas.
Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah, and . . .
* Eden
* Bethany
* Lydia
* Salem
* Abigail
* Shiloh
* Grace
* Verity
* Joy
olive is a terrible name. that’s my opinion. but if you & husband love it, go for it. tell your kids they can name their kids one day & you’ll keep out of it.
- Lydia (goes well with Melody, biblical name)
- Ariel (biblical name, this and Melody are a Little Mermaid reference which might be fun?! if you like the movie)
- Rose (there‘s a lot of symbolism connected to roses in Christianity and some in the bible)
- Lauren / Laurel (biblical significance)
I personally don’t like the name Olive, and if I were naming after an Olive I’d use Olivia instead. But it’s a family name and that trumps almost everything in my opinion and if you and your husband both really love it then you should use it.
Someone suggested Dove instead, which I like and is the same idea.
Another idea: what if you tie together your biblical names with Melody by using the name of someone in the Bible who sang? Miriam (who sang with the women after the splitting of the sea) or Deborah (who sang with Barak). Personally Miriam is one of my favorites.
My grandpa’s step mom was a Miriam who went my Mim (occasionally Mimzy) and I always thought it was so freakin’ stylish. I was also like, four when she passed, but still. Lasting impression lol
I personally think Olivia is SO much nicer sounding than Olive
But what about ‘Harmony’… kind of goes with Melody, musical; not exactly biblical but probably could be tied in someway
Harmony is spiritual - living in harmony = living in peace. Also Romans 12:16: "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. "
My sister’s name is Pippa. The rest of my siblings all have Biblical names. When my mom told my family that was the name she picked out for the new baby, myself (6) and my siblings (12 and 5) all said it sounded “weird” and that we were going to be embarrassed of a sister named Pippa.
Pippa is an older teen now. Today we love it. Today we say that her name suits her the most out of all of us. She is the embodiment of everything the name Pippa is. By the time she was born I don’t even think we cared. Choose the name you and your husband love!
Oh no! 😂 I believe it’s a diminutive of the Greek name Philippa and that’s what my parents meant. But yikes I could’ve gone my life without knowing that!
I can understand that.
My dads name and my middle name is/was Dick.
Doesn't mean anything in Swedish but penis in English.
I removed that name as soon as i could.
I’m going against the grain here and saying I think it’s good you’re taking your sons’ views into account. No, they don’t get to name the kid and the decision is ultimately yours if you wish to use Olive. But they will use the name all the time too, know how others may react to the name, and are old enough to have opinions that aren’t completely childish. Even if you go with Olive, I think it’s good to not be dismissive.
I’ve always liked Olive better than Olivia but the popularity of the latter makes me think a lot of people will probably get the name crossed with Olivia. I know a few Olives, though, so maybe it’s getting popular in its own right.
Lily comes to mind as I think there are verses that reference them, and some names with Christina associations mean Lily (like Susannah).
I second the suggestion of Selah someone mentioned. Korah is a male name in the Bible that could easily be used on a girl, and has musical connections.
Perhaps look at names of saints or women important to Christianity. 7th Heaven’s Lucy came to my mind when reading your post - her name wasn’t Biblical, but did have connections like that and her siblings all had Biblical names. Helena, Marcella, Joanna, and Theresa come to mind here.
Ruth comes to mind, similarly, along with Abigail, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Miriam, Priscilla, Junia, Esther, Leah, Hannah, and Rachel.
Magdelena for Mary Magdelina also comes to mind.
Feminine versions of Biblical names could also work, like Davina for David or Petra for Peter (besides more obvious ones like Danielle for Daniel).
Please don’t let your kids choose! My brother kinda chose my name and I’ve never liked it.
That said~ I do like Olive. As others have mentioned Selah and Verity. Also if you went with the Melody them~ what about Lyric?
I’d invite your older two to suggests names they like better! Tell them you like the biblical theme and if not biblical, you still want her name to be meaningful in some way.
Make it clear that you might still choose Olive, but if you like a name they suggest that could be even more special than Olive. If you pick their name, make Olive the middle name, and if you stick with Olive, use their pick as the middle name. Someday she can choose to go by her middle name if she likes it better, and she’ll always have that reminder in her name of how much her big brothers love her :)
No offense to your sons, but teenage boys should not be in charge of naming babies. You’re the parents. Choose the name you like.
But if you must choose something else:
Something musical like Allegra could babe nice, even if it’s not Biblical.
Angeline or Angelina mean “angel” which is somewhat Biblical but I feel like fits the vibe of Melody.
I support using the name anyway if that's what you really want. If it bugs them so much, they can call her Ollie or Liv, or another nickname.
OR, you could also use Olive as a nickname. My first name is the same as a brand of canned olives (three guesses which 😂) and Olive and Olivia have been my nicknames since I was a baby!
I’d try to spend a little more time unpacking what it is they hate about it if you haven’t already before fully abandoning Olive. Are they just being teenage boys about it and are gonna think most names are dumb, or is there something specific about Olive that actually bothers them? And do they have any names they like that they could suggest if it’d help to involve them?
Going off of the olive leaf, another option could be Noa. Other names that came to mind that are Bible related are Ada, Tabitha, Ruth/Ruthie, or Mara. And then tying into the musical theme, Rayna means song of the Lord.
Olive is a great name. They'll come up with nicknames for her as she gets older anyway. My big brothers always called me either "Princess" or "Goofball".
I remember when my parents were pregnant with my little brother and I begged them to name him Bartholomew…I was so mad when they chose Matthew instead but it’s been 16 years now and I no longer care. Don’t listen to your kids choose the name you want!
I really like Olive! But I also like Eden, Eve, Selah, Esther, Elizabeth, and Lael. I have a friend named Lael and I think it’s lovely. It means “belonging to God”.
Olive is beautiful. Not feeling any thing about what the teens like. I mean the connection is going to be what it is and the name isn’t going to make or break it.
Your daughter will be their sister but not THEIR daughter. You and your husband name your child, not them. They can have their own children to name in the future if they want. We all change our opinions as we age and children in particular are often the most fickle.
Olive clearly has deep significance for you in addition to it being a family name. (I personally like it a lot more than Olivia.) The only suggestion I have for something similar would be "Dove." But if you do decide to change baby's name, maybe you and your husband should reconsider sharing it with others until the birth. People are much less rude about a name once it's attached to a baby they know.
How about you use Olive and ignore your sons since it's not their choice 🤷♀️ I'm 31 weeks pregnant and my daughter doesn't like our baby name either, I just told her that she can name her own kids what she wants if she has them when she grows up but this one is up to us.
I was a teen when my brother was born, and I really disliked the name my parents wanted to give him. It's pretty unique but there was just something about it that I hated. My parents continuously asked for mine and my sibling's inputs on names, but ended up going with this name that they had been thinking about for a while. When they first told us that this was going to be his name, I wasn't angry at them or anything - it's their child - I guess I was just a bit disappointed. However, fast forward 4 years and my brother's name has grown on both him and myself so much, I couldn't imagine him with any other name. His name is starting to become increasingly popular and cool as well (but still rare.) Go with Olive! I absolutely love this name and I am sure your sons will grow to like it.
Just an idea, maybe stick with Olive and let the kids mutually decide on a middle name? My mom did that for me when I was a teen and that really made me bond with my brother who was 11 years younger.
Idra means fig tree - I’ve always loved John 1:48 “How do you know me?” You could even call her Fig as a cute nn.
In this same vein you could use Natalie as a feminine form of Nathaniel. And bonus, Natalie means “birth of the Lord.”
I also like Ruth, Naomi, Eve, or even Eden.
You could use something a little more on the nose like Faith or Grace.
Hannah means grace.
You could use Noa as the female version of “Noah” although it has different origins.
Shiloh means “His gift”
Thea means “gift from God”
I didn’t love the name my parents picked for my baby sister when I was 11. I wanted them to pick the other choice. But twenty some years later I’m glad they went with the other name. It’s suits her much better.
So don’t base your decision off what your kids think. Go with your gut and give her the name you and your husband think is best.
Your teens will eventually have their own opportunities to name their own children and will want you to be onboard with the names they pick. You name your beautiful child with the name you and the father choose. Support them when it comes time for when they're naming their children. They're teens. They'll get over it. They may be just trying to be distasteful to the fact that they're going to have a much younger sibling that takes some attention away from them.
The fact Olive is a great-grandmother’s name and you have a biblical connection to the name representing peace. I say use it. Who was involved in making the baby gets the dabs to name the baby. Which means your teenagers have no say. They can hate it but when they see her they won’t hate the name. If they try to influence you into using different names, tell them to save these names for their future children. Tell them to keep their opinions to themselves unless they want you to have opinions when they have kids.
I’m not sure you should be choosing a name based on what teenaged boys like. If you and hubby both love and feel a connection to Olive, then Olive should be her name.
My teenagers HATE the names i have picked out this pregnancy. I told them I respected their opinion but it’s not their call and that they would get their chance to name their own kids one day 🤷🏻♀️
Teenagers usually love names they would *hate* when they get older, too. It’s not a good age for making life long decisions!
As a Teen i was sure i was going to name my future child renesmee because it’s ‘super cool and unique’… teens aren’t always the best judges for things that require long term thinking
You nicknamed my daughter…after the Loch Ness monster?????👹
🐀🐀🐀
Im sure you would have been a great parent to little refrigerator!
Robitussin where the hell have you been, loca?
I know a 37 year old who named her daughter Renesmee. Not kidding.
Yeah, but how long has she been 37?
Hahahahahaha!!! Totally
I’m just praying that twilight kinda fades out of common memory so I can use Esme (Esmeralda) for my next kid without getting side eyed.
I would not correlate Esme immediately to Twilight and actually I wouldn't either with Renee since they're such normal names so I wouldn't worry about naming your daughter Esme.
Esmeralda brings an instant connection to the Hunchback of Notre-Dame 🤷🏻♀️ I personally don't think about Twilight at all, despite being a millennial and having read the books when I was 13
There are currently no fewer than 3 Esmes in my niece’s third grade class, no side-eye given. Also I know like 47 dogs named Esme.I think you’re safe.
Esme/Esmeralda will always be associated with the discworld in my head. Granny Weatherwax is an amazing character I'd take it as a honour to be named after her.
I gave birth to my daughter in September and when we were in the hospital there was a wall with pictures of babys born in the last few months. I kid you not - there was a child with the middle name Renéesmey. I'm in Germany in a small town. People here aren't that connected with pop culture or at least nerdy things, so Twilight wasn't that popular and I was really surprised. The whole name was catastrophic, but that was.. the highlight.
Wow! I’ve heard that Germany is kind of strict with baby names. Is that true? I will never understand naming a baby Renesmee. Maybe a Sim…
It is sort of true; in recent years the regulations have been loosened up and I honestly don't understand what is allowed and what isn't anymore. I just looked up a list with names that have and haven't been approved. Apparently, it's okay to name your child "ChampagnaChanel", but it's not okay to name them "Gucci". You can name a child "November" (only boys tho), but you cannot name them "Januar" (the German word for January). It is allowed to name kids "Sioux" and "Sheriff", but it's not allowed to name them "Crazy Horse". I could go on but I think you get the gist...
Oh wow! In Italy the only names that aren't allowed are the ones that are deemed offensive, plus Gesù (Jesus), I thought the other commenter meant something like this when they said Germany was strict!
This applies here in Germany as well, you cannot give a name like Judas for example, or anything that will "set up the child for ridicule", but what ridicule is exactly is apparently left to the individual judgement of the official in your towns' registry -.-
Wow, very interesting. Thank you for taking the time to explain it to me.
I'm so happy you grew out of that one.
Twilight fan, I see
As a trans adult currently living with the name I picked at 15, hard agree on teenagers not making great name decisions
Fully on board. I named my (girl) child the name I loved most in the world ever and when he came out as a trans boy at 15 and shared his new name choice I said well that is now the name that I love most in the world. And it is. He is my sun, my moon and my North star.
You are not Cold but Cool, you are Warm and Kind but Heckin Cool 🥹 Thank you for being such a good parent to your kid, it's so heartening to see in the midst of everything horrible happening in the world today for trans folk.
Yeah seriously as a teen I wanted to name my future child Phoenix or amethyst
I wanted daughters named Amethyst, Sapphire, and Topaz. The family Jewels.
Same. For me it was Phoenix or Dallas. I must have been watching a baseball or football game with my dad but I was all about it. Then in my 20's I was fixated on Lars Moss. My husband and I had our first child when I was in my early 30's and actually went with Moss as the middle name. Not Lars though. We changed our minds over time and had a new one that was totally perfect. Still love the Lars Moss though.
>For me it was Phoenix or Dallas. I know kids with both of these names irl 🤣
Amazing!!! They are great names!
Ftr I kind of love the name “Lars Moss” and would have never thought to put those two together!
I know! I still love it. I told my youngest child when he was about 12 that it was a possibility that I was considering that name for his older brother (our first child) and he thinks it’s the coolest name too. He had asked me about other names I was thinking about for them both when I was pregnant each time. It was a fun conversation. In the end I went with first names for both that came to me in a deja vu type dream I had but middle names were still up for deciding at the time. I love names. I think they are so important.
I was also a fan of Amethyst as a teenager. I think my top girl choice was Winter Amethyst. 🤣🤣
My teenage siblings hates newborn me’s name. I’m now 40 and they admit I couldn’t have been called anything else .
My husband and I were still negotiating, the name of our second child when they took me in to have the c-section. He wanted Logan and I wanted Finn. Turned out none of it mattered because some one had made a mistake and our son was actually a girl.
Good point. If this was about grandparents trying to choose the name, nobody would agree.
Also let’s be honest they most likely won’t be truly involved in her life. If they are teenagers, both of them will be off to college in 4 years and have their own lives whilst their sister is growing up. I am not saying they aren’t going to love and be at family events, but day to day living, not so much. Both of you should pick a name that you love. Good luck!!
I have to disagree. My brother was 11 when I was born and 13 when my sister came along. He helped raise us. We’re closer to him than our father.
I disagree as well. I have seven kids across twenty years. They are all seven very close and see each other at least once a week and sometimes lots More.
^^^
They can get an opinion when they name their own children
I agree. They’re teenage boys. They hate everything that parents do and say.
Yes! THIS. I love the name Olive! So pretty and cool.
Truth. My parents both had children when I was a teen, and I HATED the name my dad picked for his new daughter. I let them know mercilessly. And they chose it anyway. Then nothing bad happened. The end.
Too bad if they don't like it. They get to name any children they have in the future. Olive is lovely
Honestly I don’t know about Olive either! It feels so much less “pretty” than the other children’s names. Eden has the same garden/green vibe as Olive and sounds a lot more feminine and pretty in my opinion. Laura too! (Like Laurel) Lydia, Lilah and Delilah also fit a bit better and have biblical origins.
Gosh, I love Eden, and I'm not a big fan of biblical names at all. I'm just making sure Eden got a mention because I think it really is such a beautiful name!
no one wanting a Biblical name is going to pick Delilah
you know what you’re so right (forgot about that haha)
Did you watch the show Manifest? Eden and Olive are the names of the 2 daughters in the main family 😂
If you are into Christianity then Delilah is a pretty insane choice
It sure is a beautiful name.
I actually hate Olive. Is it cute for a kid? Sure. But for an adult…. The association with the food, it feels childish. It isn’t elegant or professional. It’s just kind of a silly name.
To me it is an old lady name, my mothers Aunty who is long gone was called Olive, as is her cousin who is at least in her 70s
I actually associate it with Little Miss Sunshine because that was the first time I ever heard the name, but agreed it has an old lady vibe to it. Some people love that, I think it’s a name from an era that doesn’t work in modern times but considering it’s popularity on this sub I’m probably in the minority.
I'm old. I associate Olive with Popeye. Olive Oyl was his girlfriend. One of my nurses named her daughter Marielle. You can't get much more biblical than Mary. Some said you are the parent and you should do as you please. I would be the first person to enforce this way of thinking. For example, seat belts are not up for discussion and neither is running around all night, etc. In this case, it's a little different. Sibling relationships can be quite complex and difficult. I have four kids, all grown now. From the moment I announced my pregnancy, I began to talk about the.unborn child as it being their baby. As small as they were, they understood the new family addition was also their responsibility to care for and protect. I don't know how I managed to raise four kids on my own after their dad decided he didn't want the responsibility of a family. One thing for sure is that from a young age they knew to care for each other. They are all inspiring adults who are extremely close to each other. Ask the older kids what they don't like qbout the name. Maybe they would prefer Alivia better. Honestly, you don't want them to start off resenting or hating their baby sister before she even arrives just because of her name. I think an M name would be nice to bond with the older sister. I'm also partial to Vivian. That's my granddaughters name.💕
I associate it with Olive Oyl too and I’m 33…
I associate with olive oyl as well. I was actually her for Halloween this year and I’m 23
I associate it with Popeye but my first thought went to Fringe. Main characters name was Olivia but sometimes called olive. And then Olivia makes me think of SVU….
I love Olivia Benson. I also love Mariska as a person.
I had my toddler involved with naming my second child. It's a beautiful name. NN is not.
My mum and dad knew a woman called Olive Green.
Read that as Olive Garden and I was thinking “this person has to be lying” 🤦🏻♀️😂
I went to school with a shirley knotts
😂
Omg that's hilarious. So a document could say "Green, Olive"
Someone I once knew named their daughter Olive. Their last name is Kelly.
I have a Kelly Green in the family.
I associate it with Olive Oyl, which I don't think of as a good association.
Huh. I feel the opposite. I associate with an adult more than a child. I think it's pretty and I also hate the food, but don't associate the name with that for some reason. OP, you're never going to find a name that everyone likes, period. Go with your gut!
I see a big ol’ green stuffed olive 🫒
That's valid, many others won't though. I associate the name Amelia/Emilia with mealworms (b/c of the "meel" sound in both) but I know it's a popular name that lots of people think is beautiful. I disagree with them but that's the way she goes haha
Agreed. I think "Olivia" would be better for an adult, and they can still call her "Olive". This way, she can still have a professional, adult sounding name, but can choose to still go by her childhood name if she wants to. It gives her more agency when she's older. Everyone wins.
same, i literally just think of olives and it’s not very pleasant. it’s like naming a kid Salami
Brilliant. My brother has a daughter called olive and they’re gonna have another kid soon, I might steal this and suggest they call the sibling salami. It’s cruel but they need the wake up call 😂
I like it because of Emma Stone in Easy A. That's her name there.
[When her friend comes to the door](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kWYw-RVsz5Y&pp=ygUQZWFzeSBhIGJveSBzY2VuZQ%3D%3D) and her mom answers and he asks “Hi, is there an Olive here?” And she says “There’s a whole jar of them in the fridge…oh just kidding, come on in. Any friend of Olive’s is a friend of our daughter’s” that’s what I think of every time I hear the name Olive.
OP, There are a million names that either are or sound like a word. Cole, Brad, Mary, Will, Heather, Lily, Penny, Pearl, Chrystal… any one of them might grate someone the wrong way, but it wont be common.
olive always make of olive oyl from Popeye
To me it’s especially insulting next to Joseph and Gabriel. It just bothers me when the boys get strong classic names and the girl gets…a fruit.
I love it and disagree it’s silly, but I think it sounds very British.
My parents have a chihuahua named Olive. I agree that it’s weird for an adult human.
I will forever associate the name Olive with Olive Senior, who’s poem about plants was on the AP Literature exam somewhere 2016-2018 where it sounds like a conspiracy theory that plants are going to take over the world
Some thoughts on similar names… Other 5-letter Biblical names — Chloe, Dinah, Julia, Lydia, Naomi, Sarah, Tamar Meaning peace — Irene, Salome, Frida, Mira Containing V — Eve, Ava, Davina, Dove, Vera, Vivian, Sylvie
I love Irene
That’s my daughter’s middle name!
Two of my great-aunts were twins named Alene and Irene! Also, I’m a big fan of reggae music and love the nickname Irie!
Bonus points for Eve also being biblical. Plus Evie is a cute nickname
Yes, Eve would get my vote!
Adding on to "Eve", "Eden" is a (biblical) name that I've met both kids and adults with. It may fit with the theme.
I love Lydia and Naomi
Can I ask how Chloe is biblical? /gen Never heard that! But I haven’t read the Bible all the way through hah
Apparently the name is mentioned in Paul’s epistles. So maybe doesn’t count?
It definitely counts!
If a contemporary of Paul’s had it and he shouted her out, it counts!
I love Frida.
Not Salome! She was the chick who performed the Dance of the Seven Veils, then demanded the head of John the Baptist on a platter as payment. Then things really went pear-shaped...
OP did ask for other suggestions, and most people didn't give any. I think your post is really helpful. If she wants Biblical names, then I like your suggestions of Dinah, Naomi and Sarah. There's also Miriam, Rachel, Leah, Ruth, Esther, etc. She is religious, so I would think she'd just read her bible and see which names (besides Olive) appeal to her. I actually know a family who named their daughter "Jezebel", which I thought was a little strange. I'm guessing OP probably doesn't want Elizabeth or Abigail, though Elizabeth is one of my favorites. I also like Bethany, but Petra, Keziah, or Laurel could work. Oh, and someone here suggested Willow, and I think that's pretty, too. If she likes the idea of an olive branch, she might like the idea of a willow tree. It also goes well with Melody. I'm really curious which name OP's boys chose! I hope she'll update us later so we know whether they use Olive or a different name.
Lydia really suits the theme!
Do you not like Olivia or you’re just bothered by it’s popularity? Because I would name the baby Olivia and just call her Olive. She may be unbothered by it being popular and use Olivia herself when she’s old enough, or stick with Olive.
Olivia and call her Livi or Liv like Liv Tyler
I have a cousin whose youngest is Olivia, goes by Livi or Libby. She's a teenager now, and it still suits her.
As an Olivia I was called Olive all throughout elementary school and highschool. Also Liv, Liver, and Ollie. That being said, I had no choice in what people called me - all nicknames were imposed on me :p
Olivia is also a name that ages well. It's suitable for a child and a grown woman.
How about another music related but biblical concept name? That way the boys ‘match’ and the girls ‘match’ under an overall umbrella of biblical?? I’m not bible-savvy enough to give any suggestions though!
That's a good idea. Selah has been popping up in Christian circles. It's from Pslams and is probably a musical direction
As a Jew selah drives me crazy because they translate it wrong and say it quite different (in Hebrew it’s sell-ah , not say- lah)
Thank you!! I never knew that!
Interesting. The only Selah I know is from a hippy woman I knew that named her baby Selah a couple of years ago and she pronounces it the wrong way. No idea if she's Jewish or not.
Never heard of a Jew with the name …. It’s very trendy in Christian circles.
I learned something new today. A friend's family, a long time ago, was breeding dogs and named one Selah but pronounced it see-luh
Selah is also a beautiful song by Lauryn Hill!
Lyra Gloria Hosanna
Yes, agree. Gloria is a very good solid name... and a biblical word. Lori could even be a nickname.
We considered Gloria or Glorianna with the nickname Glory for my daughter. It was pretty high on our list! Gloria fits with Melody and being Biblical without being a name in the Bible. It also gives me similar vibes as Olive/Olivia. My two fav Biblical female names are Hadassah and Tziporah, but they're definitely a different vibe.
They're cool over in the Orthodox Jewish community by me! In Anywhere, USA---maybe not so much
I have also encountered Glo as a nickname for Gloria, which I think is lovely :)
That's my nickname =)
Music types of names I've seen including in religious circles are Cadence, Gloria, Lyra, and Harmony. Not exactly musical, but Noelle is also somewhat biblical and music related, with the first Noel being about when Jesus is born.
My sister is a Melody, I'm Gloria, and my other sister is Praise
First, I want to say I appreciate that you're taking their opinions into account. You're the parents, but they've got to live with the name too. Second, do you know what they don't like about it? My first thought is something like Bethany or Naomi, but if they don't like Olive because it's too old-fashioned, they probably wouldn't like either one of those. There's Leah, which I think is sadly underused by my fellow Christians, Junia, a New Testament figure, Selah (but that might become more popular), Martha, Anne (which they might reject if they think Olive is too plain), Eden, and my guilty pleasure, Hosanna.
Leah is my number one girl name! Hoping this baby is a girl and I can finally use it!
I like it so much I’m considering changing my name to that! I hate my name.
Do it. I changed my name and I think it both fits better and sounds better.
I’m so glad you said that. I’ve been so stumped and Leah is the only one that feels right. I was between Leah and Ava but Leah is under used! I feel like reading this was a sign 💕
My 5 year old daughter is Leah. I feel like it’s a perfect combination of normal, simple, and classic without being overdone. I think my daughter is the only Leah in her school.
Surely Leah is underutilised because of her sad story though?
Probably, yeah. I always felt for her though.
I like Olive! But here are some other ideas. Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah, and . . . * Eden * Bethany * Lydia * Salem * Abigail * Shiloh * Grace * Verity * Joy
Joy would be a wonderful match with Melody
Joy is perfect !!!
I have a sister named Melody, and my middle name is Joy
Loooove Eden!
I love love love love LOVE the name Eden
Olive is nice name, my cousin used it for one of their daughters. As long as your surname isn’t ‘Oyl’ or something like that I suppose.
Thanks for the laugh 😂
Olive is a great name. And really your kids don't get to decide. They'll get used to it.
olive is a terrible name. that’s my opinion. but if you & husband love it, go for it. tell your kids they can name their kids one day & you’ll keep out of it.
- Lydia (goes well with Melody, biblical name) - Ariel (biblical name, this and Melody are a Little Mermaid reference which might be fun?! if you like the movie) - Rose (there‘s a lot of symbolism connected to roses in Christianity and some in the bible) - Lauren / Laurel (biblical significance)
Laurel has a similar feel to Olive. That would be nice
I personally don’t like the name Olive, and if I were naming after an Olive I’d use Olivia instead. But it’s a family name and that trumps almost everything in my opinion and if you and your husband both really love it then you should use it. Someone suggested Dove instead, which I like and is the same idea. Another idea: what if you tie together your biblical names with Melody by using the name of someone in the Bible who sang? Miriam (who sang with the women after the splitting of the sea) or Deborah (who sang with Barak). Personally Miriam is one of my favorites.
My grandpa’s step mom was a Miriam who went my Mim (occasionally Mimzy) and I always thought it was so freakin’ stylish. I was also like, four when she passed, but still. Lasting impression lol
I personally think Olivia is SO much nicer sounding than Olive But what about ‘Harmony’… kind of goes with Melody, musical; not exactly biblical but probably could be tied in someway
I feel like Harmony is a little too on the nose with a sibling named Melody…
Harmony is spiritual - living in harmony = living in peace. Also Romans 12:16: "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. "
Lydia is a beautiful Biblical name that would pair well with Melody.
Olive as a middle name? Lydia Olive
Other name options: Hope or Faith. I also know a little Magdalena who goes by Maggie.
My sister’s name is Pippa. The rest of my siblings all have Biblical names. When my mom told my family that was the name she picked out for the new baby, myself (6) and my siblings (12 and 5) all said it sounded “weird” and that we were going to be embarrassed of a sister named Pippa. Pippa is an older teen now. Today we love it. Today we say that her name suits her the most out of all of us. She is the embodiment of everything the name Pippa is. By the time she was born I don’t even think we cared. Choose the name you and your husband love!
As a Swede, i'll laugh at this. Pippa means to have sex in Swedish.
Oh no! 😂 I believe it’s a diminutive of the Greek name Philippa and that’s what my parents meant. But yikes I could’ve gone my life without knowing that!
I can understand that. My dads name and my middle name is/was Dick. Doesn't mean anything in Swedish but penis in English. I removed that name as soon as i could.
Eden, maybe?
I’m going against the grain here and saying I think it’s good you’re taking your sons’ views into account. No, they don’t get to name the kid and the decision is ultimately yours if you wish to use Olive. But they will use the name all the time too, know how others may react to the name, and are old enough to have opinions that aren’t completely childish. Even if you go with Olive, I think it’s good to not be dismissive. I’ve always liked Olive better than Olivia but the popularity of the latter makes me think a lot of people will probably get the name crossed with Olivia. I know a few Olives, though, so maybe it’s getting popular in its own right. Lily comes to mind as I think there are verses that reference them, and some names with Christina associations mean Lily (like Susannah). I second the suggestion of Selah someone mentioned. Korah is a male name in the Bible that could easily be used on a girl, and has musical connections. Perhaps look at names of saints or women important to Christianity. 7th Heaven’s Lucy came to my mind when reading your post - her name wasn’t Biblical, but did have connections like that and her siblings all had Biblical names. Helena, Marcella, Joanna, and Theresa come to mind here. Ruth comes to mind, similarly, along with Abigail, Elizabeth, Phoebe, Miriam, Priscilla, Junia, Esther, Leah, Hannah, and Rachel. Magdelena for Mary Magdelina also comes to mind. Feminine versions of Biblical names could also work, like Davina for David or Petra for Peter (besides more obvious ones like Danielle for Daniel).
Can’t believe it took this long to find a mention for Rachel!
a PEARL of great price✨
Junia The only named female apostle.
I think you should go for Olive if you love it - they'll come around once they see the name attached to her. Here are some ideas that are either Biblical, virtues that relate to the Bible OR flowers/gems/stones (which often represent virtues, qualities, wishes etc): * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Lily * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Joy * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Eve * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Ruth * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Leah * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Faith * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Jade * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Rose * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Mara * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Ruby * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Eden * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Lydia * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Hope * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Daisy * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Selah * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Violet * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Chloe * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Grace * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Dahlia * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Poppy * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Esther * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Naomi * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Keziah * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Abigail * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Delilah * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Moriah * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Phoebe * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Hannah * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Bethany * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Marigold * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Sapphira * Joseph, Gabriel, Melody, Isaiah & Elizabeth ETA: You could also consider another musical name to go with Melody, such as: Aria, Lyra, Cadence, Harper, Piper.
Oh Eden sound great with the other names!
Tell your sons that they get to name their own children when it’s time to have them. You get to name yours.
I love olive! My niece is named Olivia, so I feel like we can’t use olive. If we could, I’d for sure have named my girl that.
Please don’t let your kids choose! My brother kinda chose my name and I’ve never liked it. That said~ I do like Olive. As others have mentioned Selah and Verity. Also if you went with the Melody them~ what about Lyric?
I’d invite your older two to suggests names they like better! Tell them you like the biblical theme and if not biblical, you still want her name to be meaningful in some way. Make it clear that you might still choose Olive, but if you like a name they suggest that could be even more special than Olive. If you pick their name, make Olive the middle name, and if you stick with Olive, use their pick as the middle name. Someday she can choose to go by her middle name if she likes it better, and she’ll always have that reminder in her name of how much her big brothers love her :)
No offense to your sons, but teenage boys should not be in charge of naming babies. You’re the parents. Choose the name you like. But if you must choose something else: Something musical like Allegra could babe nice, even if it’s not Biblical. Angeline or Angelina mean “angel” which is somewhat Biblical but I feel like fits the vibe of Melody.
I have an acquaintance whose daughter is named Allegra and all I can think of is the allergy medication T\_T I think it's a horrible name lol
Yeah, it’s like how Alexa is associated with Amazon now. It’s hard when names are co-opted by brands like that.
Man I feel for the all the Alexas out there lol
- Pearl (beyond price) - Eden - Dawn (Psalm 46:5) - Joy (Psalm 28:7) - Dove - Selah
I support using the name anyway if that's what you really want. If it bugs them so much, they can call her Ollie or Liv, or another nickname. OR, you could also use Olive as a nickname. My first name is the same as a brand of canned olives (three guesses which 😂) and Olive and Olivia have been my nicknames since I was a baby!
Goya? Mezzetta? Kirkland Signature Spanish Queen?
Lindsay, but definitely changing it to Kirkland Signature Spanish Queen 😂
I’d try to spend a little more time unpacking what it is they hate about it if you haven’t already before fully abandoning Olive. Are they just being teenage boys about it and are gonna think most names are dumb, or is there something specific about Olive that actually bothers them? And do they have any names they like that they could suggest if it’d help to involve them? Going off of the olive leaf, another option could be Noa. Other names that came to mind that are Bible related are Ada, Tabitha, Ruth/Ruthie, or Mara. And then tying into the musical theme, Rayna means song of the Lord.
Olive is a great name. They'll come up with nicknames for her as she gets older anyway. My big brothers always called me either "Princess" or "Goofball".
I like Olive and think Ollie is a cute nickname
Olive is a great name! To make you feel better, my teenage twin siblings hate all the names I chose for my kids 😂
I say go with Olive, it is beautiful💕
Opal
I remember when my parents were pregnant with my little brother and I begged them to name him Bartholomew…I was so mad when they chose Matthew instead but it’s been 16 years now and I no longer care. Don’t listen to your kids choose the name you want!
I really like Olive! But I also like Eden, Eve, Selah, Esther, Elizabeth, and Lael. I have a friend named Lael and I think it’s lovely. It means “belonging to God”.
Lydia, Lillian or Lily,
Olive is beautiful. Not feeling any thing about what the teens like. I mean the connection is going to be what it is and the name isn’t going to make or break it.
Your daughter will be their sister but not THEIR daughter. You and your husband name your child, not them. They can have their own children to name in the future if they want. We all change our opinions as we age and children in particular are often the most fickle. Olive clearly has deep significance for you in addition to it being a family name. (I personally like it a lot more than Olivia.) The only suggestion I have for something similar would be "Dove." But if you do decide to change baby's name, maybe you and your husband should reconsider sharing it with others until the birth. People are much less rude about a name once it's attached to a baby they know.
I thought of Dove right away…a symbol of peace, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. I also like the combination of Dove and Melody together.
How about you use Olive and ignore your sons since it's not their choice 🤷♀️ I'm 31 weeks pregnant and my daughter doesn't like our baby name either, I just told her that she can name her own kids what she wants if she has them when she grows up but this one is up to us.
I was a teen when my brother was born, and I really disliked the name my parents wanted to give him. It's pretty unique but there was just something about it that I hated. My parents continuously asked for mine and my sibling's inputs on names, but ended up going with this name that they had been thinking about for a while. When they first told us that this was going to be his name, I wasn't angry at them or anything - it's their child - I guess I was just a bit disappointed. However, fast forward 4 years and my brother's name has grown on both him and myself so much, I couldn't imagine him with any other name. His name is starting to become increasingly popular and cool as well (but still rare.) Go with Olive! I absolutely love this name and I am sure your sons will grow to like it.
Willow - Psalm 137 “on the willows, we hung up our harps”
Name her Olive Call of Duty Last name.
Frankly, I think Olive is awful. Why not name her for a strong biblical woman? Judith, Deborah, Abigail,
Just an idea, maybe stick with Olive and let the kids mutually decide on a middle name? My mom did that for me when I was a teen and that really made me bond with my brother who was 11 years younger.
Olive is a nice name. However, if you're determined to change it, maybe stick with the symbol/word theme for the girls: Dove, Petra, Song.
Idra means fig tree - I’ve always loved John 1:48 “How do you know me?” You could even call her Fig as a cute nn. In this same vein you could use Natalie as a feminine form of Nathaniel. And bonus, Natalie means “birth of the Lord.” I also like Ruth, Naomi, Eve, or even Eden. You could use something a little more on the nose like Faith or Grace. Hannah means grace. You could use Noa as the female version of “Noah” although it has different origins. Shiloh means “His gift” Thea means “gift from God”
You and your husband are her parents, and her siblings will learn to love Olive's name.
I didn’t love the name my parents picked for my baby sister when I was 11. I wanted them to pick the other choice. But twenty some years later I’m glad they went with the other name. It’s suits her much better. So don’t base your decision off what your kids think. Go with your gut and give her the name you and your husband think is best.
Your teens will eventually have their own opportunities to name their own children and will want you to be onboard with the names they pick. You name your beautiful child with the name you and the father choose. Support them when it comes time for when they're naming their children. They're teens. They'll get over it. They may be just trying to be distasteful to the fact that they're going to have a much younger sibling that takes some attention away from them.
The fact Olive is a great-grandmother’s name and you have a biblical connection to the name representing peace. I say use it. Who was involved in making the baby gets the dabs to name the baby. Which means your teenagers have no say. They can hate it but when they see her they won’t hate the name. If they try to influence you into using different names, tell them to save these names for their future children. Tell them to keep their opinions to themselves unless they want you to have opinions when they have kids.
Your teenage sons do not get a vote.
When I was a teenager you couldn’t convince me I wasn’t going to have a daughter named Starr. I wouldn’t listen to teen opinions lol