Five Olivers commence final year at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Geelong West

A handful of Olivers adopted nicknames at one Geelong primary school to make it easier for teachers and classmates – and the confusion will likely continue as next year when they move into secondary school.

St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School’s Oliver Doak, Oliver Clarke, Oliver Gowans, Oliver Flynn and Oliver Planken. Picture: Brad Fleet.

There remains no shortage of Olivers at a Geelong West primary school as a handful of boys with the popular name continue their educational journey together.

The quintet commenced prep at St Patrick’s Primary School in 2019 and to counter confusion among teachers and classmates, they adopted nicknames.

Oliver Gowans is OG, Oliver Planken goes by Ollie, Oliver Clarke is Clarkey, Oliver Doak is called Doaky, and Oliver Flynn is another Ollie.

The five started at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in 2019. Picture: Alison Wynd.

To complicate matters further, four of the Olivers were in the same grade four class.

Oliver Flynn said that was a confusing experience.

“The teacher would call our name and we wouldn’t know who they’re talking to,” he said this week.

It was the same with classmates, Oliver Gowans said.

“Whenever they said ‘Ollie’ and there was more than one Ollie in the class, then all the Ollies looked at that person,” he said.

This year, three of the boys are in the same class, with the teacher’s son also named Oliver.

But with similarity comes competition, with the boys saying there was contention to be “the best Ollie”.

Each staked their own claim.

Oliver Gowans was vice-captain of the school, Oliver Planken said he was the best at sport, Oliver Clarke said he had the best nickname, Oliver Doak said he liked “making people laugh”, and Oliver Flynn said he is “the elder of the Ollies … they worship me.”

“Nobody worships you,” was the instantaneous response from the others.

Of the five, four will continue on to high school together. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Four of the five will continue on in secondary school together in 2026, where it is statistically likely that there will be more Olivers.

It is the most popular name for babies born in the Geelong region, with 43 registered in 2024.

Oliver was also the most popular name across Victoria.

Of the nearly 80,000 babies registered in Victoria last year, 570 of them were Olivers.

Asked why, the boys said: “It’s the best name.”

For 11 years, Oliver has ranked as the most popular boys’ name, not only in Victoria, but also across Australia.

It was also the most commonly submitted name in the Geelong Advertiser’s cutest baby competition last year.

Originally published as Five Olivers commence final year at St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School in Geelong West