Girls Name Vote: Zoe or Olivia ?

Updated on September 04, 2013
J.G. asks from Minneapolis, MN
36 answers

We already have a boys name picked out but if it's a girl we had already kind of decided on Zoe though I am now learning towards Olivia. Any thoughts?

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So What Happened?

Thank you so much for your responses and input. I'm on the fence about Zoe Olivia and prefer the hoping for twins suggestion, lol, but I am pleased to hear so many people like the two together. I don't mind that they are popular, I don't like trendy. Zoe isn't exactly trendy at 30 something on the popularity list. Olivia is number 4 but Olivia has meaning in our family. Zoe not so much, we just like it! Decisions decisions. I think I will just wait to see her...if it's a her.

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L.M.

answers from Norfolk on

A friend of mine had chosen olivia and wound up naming baby zoe. Funny.

i'm not a fan of either. they're both kind of trendy right now.

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Hope for twins. :o)

I like Zoe, we have one across the street, but then I also love Olivia.

Oh yes, I do think that waiting until she's here to see her then deciding is a good idea.

2 moms found this helpful

M.S.

answers from Lincoln on

I like Olivia. Zoe is cute for a child. Olivia is better suited when older. Olivia commands more in a professional setting or something along those lines.

1 mom found this helpful

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L.U.

answers from Seattle on

I had my only daughter 3 months ago and named her Olivia...so,since you live so far away you can name your daughter that too! I love it.

3 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

What about Zoe Olivia.
Using one or the other for a middle name.

3 moms found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Wait until she's born. One will just "fit".

2 moms found this helpful

A.A.

answers from Nashville on

omg...i love the name ZOE! im currently pregnant with our 2nd and if its a girl i think im going to go with ZOE. I was wanting a name to go with a middle name of Claire and i think Zoe Claire sounds pretty:) If its a boy we are going with Mason. Our little girls name is Ava Marie. You can always have Zoe as the first name and Olivia as the middle name sounds pretty to me:)

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S.H.

answers from Detroit on

wait until she is born... one of them will be the right one and you can decide at that time...

2 moms found this helpful

M.R.

answers from Rochester on

Go with what you prefer since they are so close (and thankfully you don't have to make a final decision until you submit your birth certificate information). I'm more partial to Olivia because of the Olivia books (my boys love them, too). I also love that it's short but has lots of syllables. Write out the full names and play around with them. I always like looking at the names together (first, middle, and last) and saying them and hearing them from other people. It has helped us to look at them all over before making a decision. :)

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C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hmmm, I hear "Olivia" playing in the bedroom.

Both are great but VEEEERY popular. This is coming from someone who is MARRIED to another Chris! I also had a class where there were FIVE other Chris' and the teacher put us in our OWN row. Sad...

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M.S.

answers from Seattle on

I agree with SH. Zoe Olivia sounds wonderfully rich!

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R.Y.

answers from New York on

Neither would be one of my top picks but I like Zoe better. I'd pair it with a longer middle name (Alexandra, Elizabeth, Katherine, Cassandra, etc). Both names seem to be gaining in popularity lately.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

I lean toward Olivia b/c Zoe is very popular these days.

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P.W.

answers from San Francisco on

They are both cute and original. My personal choice between the two would be Zoe.

But if you use them both, go for Zoe Olivia. Olivia Zoe sounds awkward.

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J.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Love the name Olivia!!

1 mom found this helpful

S.R.

answers from Kansas City on

I love Olivia, we would use it for our girl name but my cousin is due anyday now and they are using it.

I agree with the others- Zoe Olivia is beautiful.

I would spell Zoe differently though, but that's just me.

1 mom found this helpful

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

Zoe

But Zoe Olivia is super cute!

If you really can not decide, I 2nd the idea of waiting till you meet her to decide?

~In my area Olivia is way more popular than Zoe..b/c of the books and cartoons!

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Y.C.

answers from New York on

What about Olivia Zoe?

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A.G.

answers from Boston on

I hate to say this but I think both names a way over used right now.

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I would wait until you see her (or maybe it's a him!) before you decide. I like both names, but sometimes you have to see the baby to know for sure! When my neice came out she was a complete Zoe, so that's what they went with and it still fits her perfectly. I'm sure you already know this but Zoe means life and I like that meaning too for a baby.

1 mom found this helpful

L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I like Olivia; and such cute nicknames w/ that name if you are into nicknames

J.E.

answers from Erie on

My daughters name is Zoey..so thats my vote :)

I agree though...wait until you see her. Youll know what feels right.

GL and Congrats!

A.S.

answers from Iowa City on

I h ave a niece named Zoe and a step-niece named Olivia. I pick Zoe.

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H.P.

answers from Springfield on

They're BOTH so cute~~! I like the "Liv" nickname for Olivia... very sweet. :) Either way, you can't go wrong. Congrats!! Oh, and I used my 2 favorite girl names for my final daughter, first and middle, if that helps.

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C.V.

answers from Kansas City on

I think Zoe is cute! I personally don't care much for Olivia... Good luck and Congrats!

V.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Zoe (If it's pronounced like Zoey or Zoee)

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J.A.

answers from San Francisco on

love them both! Olivia is my favorite though

D.M.

answers from Rapid City on

I like Olivia much better.

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K.H.

answers from Dallas on

I like the idea of using both as already mentioned. That's kind of how my daughter got her name. Otherwise, you could always wait until you meet her to see if you feel one name fits her more than the other!

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Z.F.

answers from Houston on

My name is Z. Olivia Smith Fleming. I was born in 1953.
My older daughter's name is Z. Genevieve born 1973.
My granddaughter's name? Z. Elizabeth Born 2002

My mom's name? Z. Ellen
Her mom's name? Z. Louis
HER mom's name? Z. Marie.
And her mom! Z. Marie.

The name Z. has been around a long time. We are from New Orleans. I hated my name growing up. Except for my mom and grandmother (the others were dead) I was the only little girl with the name. People asked stupid questions? Is that your REAL name? What's it short for? Now it is popular

Bottom line. Don't go crazy wild with a name. Your child has to live with it. As I grew older and understood it was part of my family heritage it e came easier to accept.

Crazier still. I hated Olivia as a child love it now. I use both names. My first name (same for all the named Zoes in the family) has alway been pronounced so it rhymes with OH NO GO TOE. not Zoey.

M.W.

answers from Nashville on

Is it pronounced Zoh or Zoee? I have seen Zoe prounounced both ways... if it's 'Zoee', I like that better than Olivia... but if it's just 'Zoh' I prefer Olivia... I also agree that Olivia Zoe sounds very nice. :)

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K.V.

answers from Madison on

When you see her for the first time you will know which name to choose. Don't rule out either just yet!

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T.J.

answers from Seattle on

Depends on the middle name and the last name! If you have a longer last name I say Zoe, shorter Olivia, because of the syllables. I have an Olivia Lane, but think both are cute names! They are both pretty popular, we also have an Amelia Elizabeth. and all the Olivia books! My friend spelled her daughter's name Zoey, just to avoid the misprounciation, but I've only met one who pronounced it Zoe, the rest all say Zoey.

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B.B.

answers from New York on

Sorry, I don't like either one.

J.B.

answers from Houston on

Didn't look at any responses but my vote is Olivia all the way :D I know lots of cute little Zoes though, so it is a good name ;)

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M.L.

answers from New York on

Im partial to Olivia ;) but my daughter is spelled Olyvia

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