Oliver: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced AH-lih-ver · 3 syllables
Oliver means “olive tree”, from Latin and French.
Inherited from Middle English Oliver, from Old French Olivier, by folk etymology derived from the Latin name Olivarius, but probably representing an Old High German form of Old Norse Oleifr (“ancestral + relic”) (modern Danish Olaf and Swedish Olof), or Proto-Germanic *ala- (“all”) + *weraz (“true”) (modern Swedish allvar). Name of a paladin of Charlemagne in medieval French romance.
- Meaning
- olive tree
- Origin
- Latin, French
- Pronunciation
- AH-lih-ver
- US rank (2025)
- #3
- US babies a year
- about 15,056 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 2020
- Style
- Rising, Classic, Literary
How popular is Oliver?
Oliver was the #3 name in the US in 2025, given to 14,963 babies. It’s rising: up 89% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 2020.
Most popular in Iowa (#1), Idaho (#1), Indiana (#1), Kentucky (#1), Missouri (#1), Montana (#1), Ohio (#1), Oregon (#1).
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #3 |
| England & Wales | #1 |
| Scotland | #4 |
| Northern Ireland | #5 |
| Ireland | #19 |
| France | #509 |
| Norway | #5 |
| Canada | #12 |
| Australia | #1 |
How old are people named Oliver?
Half of US adults named Oliver are older than 33; most are between 18 and 83. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Oliver
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Oliver have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Oliver
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
- The most popular boy names in the US
- Classic boy names
- Rising boy names
- Literary boy names
- Latin boy names
- French boy names
Questions about Oliver
What does the name Oliver mean?
Oliver means “olive tree”. It comes from Latin and French.
How do you pronounce Oliver?
Oliver is pronounced AH-lih-ver.
How popular is the name Oliver?
Oliver was the #3 name in the US in 2025, given to 14,963 babies. It’s rising: up 89% on 2011–2015. It peaked around 2020.
How old are people named Oliver?
Half of US adults named Oliver are older than 33. Most are between 18 and 83.