ols.wtf / blog / the-many-2-layers-of-ols

The many (2) layers of ols

Oliver Leaver-Smith <oliver@leaversmith.com> on 2024-05-22 10:26:02

If you're on this site already, you probably know that my name is Oliver and that I prefer ols; but did you know that it's a multi-layered nickname?

I've had it in the past where people I have known for years only just realise why I go by ols. As you may know, ols is a common nickname for people named Oliver, and I refer to most Olivers I know as ols. Therefore it's not such a stretch to go by the name

However, the eagle-eyed among you will have also noticed that ols (or OLS to be grammatically correct) is actually the initials of my full name, Oliver Leaver-Smith. In fact, some folks at work do refer to me by my initials (i.e. "Oh Ell Ess") in verbal settings

I don't mind this, but I want to dissuade from becoming common practice, hence not going by my initials in capital letters. Also it looks shouty. To be "proper" would be to stylise my name as "Ols", but I don't like how this looks asymmetrical and weighted towards the front of the word, hence preferring "ols" in all lowercase

It is a peculiar thing I suppose, but it's one that I try to be consistent with as it forms a minor but important part of my personal branding