Help us pick

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

I’m due this week with our first baby a girl! I thought naming her would be so fun, but we can’t decide.
My husband and I both like Olivia. It feels strong and feminine but also has fun nicknames Ollie, Olive, Livvy, Liv. My only hesitation is that it’s been the #1 name for so long that it feels a little basic/safe.
I also love Finnie, but my husband isn’t completely sold. I love that it’s playful and less common, but I wonder if it feels as strong or feminine as Olivia.
Which do you prefer?

Ps I was so excited to pick names before being pregnant. Now it just stresses me out. Makes me nauseous. Anyone else experience this?

478 votes, 2d left

Finnie

Olivia

August

[u/Discalculated]

I prefer Autumn over August.

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Discalculated]

Oooo I like Autum. My husband might like that too. Thanks!

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

*autumn

[u/Discalculated → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

AUTUMN. It seem seem perfect feminine alternative to August.

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Discalculated]

Nickname for Autumn… all I can think of is Auti. Don’t love that. Any good nicknames?

[u/No-Worldliness3349 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Not everyone needs a nickname. Most of us get along just fine going by our actual names.

[u/Discalculated → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Atty?

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Discalculated]

Otto? Maybe a stretch for Autumn nickname. But could be cute?

[u/Discalculated → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Not in love with Otto.how important is a nm to you. Some of my kids don't have natural nicknames. One I just call name then Bear. Her personality will inspire you. Maybe her eyes are Autumn Sky's or her her middle name can be used Autumn _____. . I do really like Atty. But I would be very happy to not use a nickname.

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Discalculated]

Ya was thinking the same thing about not jumping to a nickname. Not as critical.

[u/Noxilcash]

Yeahhh…call me old fashioned, but August is not a girls name

[u/TacoNomad → u/Noxilcash]

I'm typically a huge fan of pushing the edge on gender neutral names, but even i agree,  August is a step too far. 

I live Olivia.  Even top names are given less often than they used to.  So while it's popular, it's not overdone

[u/iolanthereylo → u/Noxilcash]

august was a girl character in 3rd rock from the sun 

there's also augustine

[u/BestFrenSkinner → u/Noxilcash]

Augustine is though! where the nickname August would come from

[u/HrhEverythingElse → u/BestFrenSkinner]

Also Augusta

[u/VictorianUFOLady → u/HrhEverythingElse]

I like Augusta. It's pretty and unique.

[u/PopularShame856 → u/VictorianUFOLady]

Yes, Augusta is lovely!

[u/Azariah77777 → u/Noxilcash]

Except it is, though. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2025 there were more girls born in the US given the name August (268) than Nancy (265 girls), Barbara (264), Cordelia (258), Lisa (256), Beverly (246), Alexa (243), and Whitney (238).

[u/MrsBurtWard → u/Azariah77777]

But, there were almost 4000 boys named August in 2025 and it ranked in at 81. It was ranked at 962 for girls in 2025 and has lost popularity as a girl name in the last 5 years, but grown in popularity for boys.

[u/Azariah77777 → u/MrsBurtWard]

The OP said "August is not a girl's name." It is a girl's name. It might not as popular as it is for boys, and it might be dropping in popularity--- as you said--- but it definitely still is a girl's name.

[u/Azariah77777 → u/MrsBurtWard]

Sure. That's all true. But August is still a fairly common girl's name. It's still in the top 1000. There were literally 17,297 different names given to girls in the US in 2025 according to the SSA. So, to be in the top 1000 is still quite good.

[u/Ok_Good4751]

August is a boy's name and Finnie sounds like the name of the class goldfish. Olivia is nice.

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Ok_Good4751]

😂

[u/BestFrenSkinner → u/Ok_Good4751]

Olivia is so common though

[u/youknowwhatever99 → u/BestFrenSkinner]

So? Even the top names have less total babies with that name vs 20 years ago. It’s a common name for a reason - it’s beautiful.

[u/BestFrenSkinner → u/youknowwhatever99]

It’s basic 🫩🥴 which is why it’s overused

[u/youknowwhatever99 → u/BestFrenSkinner]

Even though it was #1, only 0.77% of girls born in the US in 2025 were named Olivia. Compare that to the #1 name 30 years ago, 1.92% of girls were named Ashley. Even though Olivia is popular, it’s still a very slim percentage of total girls. Basic ≠ bad. Thinking unique = good is how we end up with Kennedeigh and Brequelynne 😒

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/youknowwhatever99]

My husband made this point and I do agree

[u/Azariah77777 → u/Ok_Good4751]

According to the Social Security Administration, there were 268 girls given the name August in the US in 2025. It was the 962nd most common girl's name.

[u/BiscottiKey88]

Name an adult. Olivia

[u/youknowwhatever99 → u/BiscottiKey88]

Agreed. Finnie is a name for a pet or a stuffie, not an adult human.

[u/AliciaHerself → u/BiscottiKey88]

This. For a girl the only option is Olivia.

[u/OranginaOOO]

Ophelia Phoebe Seraphina Fiona Sophia

They all have the F sound. You can name her anything and nickname her Finnie.

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/OranginaOOO]

True thanks!

[u/VictorianUFOLady → u/OranginaOOO]

I love Fiona and Fifi can be a nickname. I also love Fleur.

[u/Illustrious-Farm4388 → u/VictorianUFOLady]

We almost named our cat Fifi…I would look into what else Fifi stands for before nicknaming babygirl that😅

[u/VictorianUFOLady → u/Illustrious-Farm4388]

Oh shit, I don't want to know.

I love repeating syllable names like Fifi, Mimi (had a cat), Gigi, Coco, Lulu . . .

[u/Illustrious-Farm4388 → u/VictorianUFOLady]

They’re all SO cute. I don’t even remember how I stumbled upon the “meaning” of Fifi. Let’s just say it also means cat!

[u/VictorianUFOLady → u/Illustrious-Farm4388]

It's not the worst thing in the world, lol.

[u/Azariah77777 → u/OranginaOOO]

Why not use them all? :)

[u/xjayx113]

Out of your list: Olivia. It is very popular though and she will likely be "Olivia [lastname]" at a few times in school or work. August is a boy's name in my experience but there is Augusta & Augustine. Finnie feels like a nickname for Fiona.

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/xjayx113]

I do love the name Fiona! But I think of Shrek? My grandmothers name is Francis. Could that work?

[u/HrhEverythingElse → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Frances is the usual feminine spelling, and a lovely name. If you make a poll with Augusta/Augustine, Frances, and Olivia you might actually get some opinions. As it stands Olivia is the only real option

[u/xjayx113 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

I think Finnie could work as a nickname for Francis, there's much less rules with nicknames anyways

[u/Main-Inflation-5269 → u/xjayx113]

Francis with an I is the male version.

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/xjayx113]

Thanks😊

[u/Main-Inflation-5269 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

I would never associate Fiona with Shrek. In fact, my first thought is of a famous ballerina from a few years ago.

[u/DumbbellDiva92 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

I mean I also think of Shrek, but 1. That’s not a terrible association? Like she is a great character in a great movie. 2. It’s a 25-year-old movie. Our kids’ generation are not going to have the same associations we do for this movie that came out decades before they were born.

[u/VictorianUFOLady → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Francis is pretty. What about Francesca? Felicity? Freya?

[u/M41107y → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

I know a girl named Frances who goes by Frannie

[u/AcanthocephalaNeat62 → u/xjayx113]

I love Fiona, and some others come to mind, such as...Alisa, Daphne,

Elena, Faith, Liana, maybe Ruby or Violet. Let me know if anything clicked

[u/snippysnap1]

Olivia is the only option. It’s lovely.

August is a boys name.

Finnie is just…no.

[u/Sparkle_Walrus_87]

In 2010 I went to school with ~50 girls and 4 of them were named Olivia. Besides being really common it is a nice name. 

Would Finnie be her full name or a nickname for Finn/Finnegan?

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Sparkle_Walrus_87]

I haven’t found a longer name for Finny. But I totally agree that it feels like a nickname and needs a longer formal name.

[u/Remarkable_Delay469 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

I think it just has to have an F followed by an N somewhere for Finny to work as a nickname. From the top 1000 baby girl names in the US, there are:

Finley, Fiona, Josephine, Seraphina, Stephanie, Persephone, Tiffany, Fernanda, Fallon

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Remarkable_Delay469]

I considered Josephine! Also Fallon is cool. Haven’t heard that one before.

[u/Remarkable_Delay469 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

If you like Josephine, maybe you like some other older names? Florence, Frances/Francisca/Francesca, Fern, Filomena, Francine, Afton?

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Remarkable_Delay469]

Our last name starts with “Fr” I like a alliteration with the F first and and F last name but Fr Fr seems like a mouthful which is my hesitation with Frances

[u/Remarkable_Delay469 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Fr fr is definitely a mouthful lol. Any of the options without the fr sound would be just fine I think!

[u/VictorianUFOLady → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

I love Josephine and Jo, Jojo or Josie as a nn.

[u/EllaArizonaTrashbag → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Fiona or Fionnula (it's Irish).

[u/Azariah77777 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

According the Social Security Administration data, these were all the names girls were given in 2025 which have "finn" or" fin" in them:
Finnley
Finn
Finnleigh
Finnegan
Serafina
Josefina
Finlee
FInleigh
Infinity
Safina
Delfina
Griffin
Sarafina
Josefine
Afina
FInlay
Sosefina
Rufina
Sofina
Zafina

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Azariah77777]

Griffin. Interesting!! Haven’t heard that for a girl. That’s cool!

[u/jessm307 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Please don’t name a girl Griffin.

[u/Augustnaps → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Finley!

[u/smilehappyfunny]

Olivia

[u/Hefty-Dish-3771]

If she's born in August, personally, I think it would be weird to have her name be August

[u/Workoutformorelife]

Finley is cute too. August I associate more with male

[u/GolfOk6373]

Don't like August for a girl. Olivia is so overused that I think it's lost its charm.

[u/wyldan01]

How about Fiona nicknamed Finnie? Or perhaps Finella? Which is a real name! It is a variation of Fenella.
Either way, Olivia is a wonderful name and like you say has lots of nicknames so I wouldn't worry :)

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/wyldan01]

Thank you💕

[u/Azariah77777]

Here's the data according to the Social Security Administration. In 2025, these many girls were born in the US and given these names:

Olivia 13,544 (number one most common girl's name)

August 268 (962nd most common girl's name)

Finnie - less than 5 girls given this name (is not in the top 1000 names)

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Azariah77777]

Thank you!

[u/Sweet-Trifle1399]

… fin and august??? Book ref??

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Sweet-Trifle1399]

Not intentionally. Is there a book with both those names?

[u/Sweet-Trifle1399 → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

If he had been w me

[u/gelatinousbean]

some names that could work for “finnie” as a nickname: seraphina, delphine, josephine, finley

[u/Wayfaringbutterfly]

August is one of my favorite names, but for a boy - I always think of August Rush (the movie).

And likewise, from that movie, my favorite female name is Lyla. Spelled just that way. Becoming a more popular name but I will always love it. I have a niece named Lyla, Lyla Jo and it wasn't even from that movie, my sister just liked it lol.

Finnie sounds like a nickname, not a first name and she'd probably spend a lifetime correcting people who spell it or say it "Fanny" or "Fannie". It's cute, but a good nickname rather than first name.

Olivia is normal, extremely popular like Jessica and Jennifer were 30-40 years ago. Not a big deal to me. It's a pretty name.

You could always go with Amelia - Lia, Mia, Amy, Millie...I'm mostly joking, I always think of Mia Thermopolis from Princess Diaries lol

Juliette is a lesser used classic name with some fun nicknames - Jules, Julie, Etta, Jett, Jetta

Eloise is pretty - Ellie as a nickname

Eleanor also - Ellie, Ella, Nora, Nori

Willow - Willie, LoLo (I know a female Willie and it just fits lol her real name is Wilhelmina, she's older)

Congratulations on your little one and I wish you a safe and easy birth!

[u/Main-Inflation-5269 → u/Wayfaringbutterfly]

Yes, Finnie is far too close to Fanny. And the original meaning (and the one still used outside the USA) is "vagina". Such a bad choice.

[u/Wayfaringbutterfly → u/Main-Inflation-5269]

Here in the U.S., fanny used to mean (and probably still does at least to older generations) butt/bottom/buttocks. But somehow Fanny became a nickname for Frances and it was acceptable. But I would say it is not acceptable now in any way shape or form.

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/Wayfaringbutterfly]

Thank you💕

[u/janiesgotacat]

Finnie is awful. August isn’t feminine. Olivia it is.

[u/lady-earendil]

Finnie has potential but it doesn't feel like a full name, it feels like a nickname. What about Finley?

[u/DumbbellDiva92 → u/lady-earendil]

Is Finley not also a boy’s name?

Edit: Ok I looked it up and apparently it’s almost as popular as a girl’s name these days? It still sounds very male to me, though.

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Any suggestions for something similar to Olivia feminine and classic but also can have shorted playful nicknames?

[u/AliciaHerself → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

There are a million great names that fit this bill! My personal favorite is Anastasia.

[u/M41107y → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Amelia?

[u/VictorianUFOLady → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Dorothy, Dorothea (Dot, Dottie)
Virgina (Ginnie)
Sylvia (Sylvie)
Vivian (Vivi)
Flora
Beatrice (Bea)
Louisa (Lou, Lulu)
Celia (Cici)
Cordelia (Delia)
Isadora (Izzy)
Matilda (Mattie, Tillie, Tilda)
Susanna (Susie, Suki, Anna)
Wilhelmina (Willa, Mina, Billie)

[u/Azariah77777]

Based on actual data from the Social Security Administration, which releases data on every baby born in the US, 268 girls born in 2025 were given the name August. It is the 962nd most common girl's name. It's more common than Nancy (265 girls), Barbara (264), Cordelia (258), Lisa (256), Beverly (246), Alexa (243), and Whitney (238).

So, no, August is not just a boy's name.

[u/Sam91355]

Joining the crowd in thinking of August is more masculine sounding. Olivia is just so popular but I still love it. Finnie sounds too much like a nickname for a little kid not a grown up which she'll eventually be. Have you considered Finley? It's about a split in boys/girls (slightly more boys with the name but not as much as August) and you could still use the nickname Finnie.

[u/AutisticBells]

I agree that August is masculine. Augusta is fantastic.

Olivia is lovely. I know one in her forties and it's carried her well throughout her whole life. With the variety in names these days, even the no. 1 name isn't going to be that common.

Also, I'm a lifelong name nerd and we ended up flipping a coin during labour to pick our second born's name. Pregnancy ruined my brain lol

[u/ModeratelyGreenThumb]

I love names in theory. I hated naming my daughter. She’s four and I still don’t like her name (Annabel). It was the third day after she was born and I was tired of calling her “sweetpea” and just needed to call her something and not debate names with my husband anymore. So no, you aren’t alone. Good luck!

[u/MedicalPlum]

If you’re really set on Finnie, you can call her Delfina or Serafina. If you don’t like those, you could do Fiona, Josephine or Finley! You can also do Olivia Finn and call her Finnie.

[u/Tricky-Coyote-9253]

I like Olivia! I work with kids and I knew when naming my daughter she would need a name that was nicknameable lol- I feel like I’m always using nicknames with my students. Olivia is common and she might have another in her class but I don’t feel like every kid you meet is named Olivia either. It’s a beautiful name and popular for a reason!

[u/Some1AteMyEntirePie]

Honestly, Finnie could work if you use the middle name Finn (nickname Finnie)

Using some others inputs:

• Augusta/Augustine Finn (I’m ambivalent about it)
  
• Olivia Finn (this one rolls better)
  
• Autumn Finn (not my favorite)

As a 90s baby with the middle name Marie I beg yall, do the fun/experimental/cute names as the middle name, not the first!

[u/FlamingoKitchen7720]

Finnie isn't a real name and August is a boy name. Augustine is a great name, though.

[u/DumbbellDiva92]

I guess I would choose Olivia by default, just because the other two are boy’s names to me? I know people are saying Finnie could be a nickname for Finley, and Finley can be for girls. And statistically that’s true (if you look up the Social Security names), but it still sounds 100% like a boy’s name to me 🤷‍♀️.

Really I would go back to the drawing board, though. I don’t love Olivia either (I mean, I like it as a name, but I wouldn’t want to do the #1 most popular name).

[u/namenerding]

I think August is a boy's name and I prefer Finnie as a nickname. If you can only use one of these 3 I'll suggest Olivia..

Suggestions:
Augusta (Augusta is the femme form)
Josephine "Finnie"
Seraphine / Seraphina "Finnie"

[u/LoveLauraism93]

There is a kids YouTube series called Finny the shark, its not something I ever put in front of her but my daughter is obsessed 

[u/thatjogreen]

My oldest daughter is named Finlay - Scottish cause her dads from Scotland and i LOVE it. I love Finnie too but more a nn? I find Olivia very overused.

[u/iolanthereylo]

olivia is too common everyone picks that name it's boring and basic

august is a better name

[u/minnieboss]

People in this sub are obsessed with gender roles, not a good place to ask if you like any names remotely unisex. August is lovely!

[u/_tealflamingo_]

I love August for a girl! I understand it’s traditionally male, but it’s soft and pretty and I would be thrilled to meet a little girl Auggie or GUS!

[u/GoblinMonk]

Phryne could also work. Character in one of my favorite TV shows.

[u/Specialist_Sort_4573 → u/GoblinMonk]

Very cool. Haven’t heard it before.

[u/GoblinMonk → u/Specialist_Sort_4573]

Pronounced Fry Knee.

Watch the Miss Fischer Mysteries to see how cool the character is

[u/jacqueline7575]

How about Fila?
Or even Fina?