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Olivia vs Jessica - What's the difference?

olivia | jessica |

As proper nouns the difference between olivia and jessica

is that olivia is (female given name) while jessica is ; formerly rare, but since the 1970s popular in all english-speaking countries.

olivia

English

Proper noun

(en proper noun)
  • .
  • * 1601 , Twelfth Night , Act I, Scene 1:
  • O! when mine eyes did see Olivia first / Methought she purg'd the air of pestilence.
  • * 1766 , The Vicar of Wakefield :
  • I intended to call her after Aunt Grizel, but my wife who, during pregnancy, had been reading romances, insisted upon her being called Olivia . In less than another year we had another daughter, and now I was determined that Grizel should be her name; but a rich relation taking a fancy to stand godmother, the girl was, by her directions, called Sophia, so that we had two romantic names in the family, but I solemnly protest I had no hand in it.
  • * 1985 , Echoes , Arrow Books (2006), ISBN 978-0099498650, page 404:
  • 'Olivia , that's a fine posh name for Castlebay,' he said approvingly. 'Ah, they're sick of these Davids and Clares and Gerrys, the dull old names,' Clare laughed. 'I hope they won't call her Olly,' David said. 'Make your own nickname then,' Gerry said. 'Livy?' Clare suggested. 'Liffey even?' Gerry said.

    jessica

    English

    Proper noun

    (en proper noun)
  • ; formerly rare, but since the 1970s popular in all English-speaking countries .
  • * 1594 William Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice: Act V: Scene I:
  • Lorenzo : In such a night / Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, / And with an unthrift love did run from Venice, / As far as Belmont.
    Jessica : In such a night / Did young Lorenzo swear he lov'd her well, / Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, / And ne'er a true one.
    Lorenzo : In such a night / Did pretty Jessica , like a little shrew, / Slander her love, and he forgave it her.
  • * 1996 , The Writer's Child , The Sandman Book of Dreams, HarperCollins, ISBN 0002246325, page 154:
  • She will be beautiful, of course - how could our child not be beautiful? We will name her...Jessica . Yes, that's a good name, not one of those lighter-than-air names so popular among writers of romances and fairy tales. That's a name a real little girl might have.