Olga
Olga: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈoʊlɡə/ · /ˈɒlɡə/
Meaning and origin of Olga
Root meaning: “holy; inviolable, sacred”
- A female given name from Russian, Ukrainian, or Belarusian.
- A transliteration of the Russian female given name О́льга (Ólʹga).
Etymology
Borrowed in the 19th century from Old East Slavic О́льга (Ólĭga), name of a Kievan knyaginya (Saint Olga of Kiev), a medieval form of Helga, Old Norse heilagr (“holy; inviolable, sacred”). Doublet of Helga.
How popular is Olga?
Since 1880, 61,872 girls and 198 boys in the U.S. have been named Olga (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #126 in 1916. Its highest rank for boys was #2663 in 1942. In 2025, 50 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
More Russian girl names
Sibling name ideas for Olga
Sister and brother names that share Olga's Russian roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Olga FAQ
What does the name Olga mean?
Olga traces back to a root meaning "holy; inviolable, sacred". A female given name from Russian, Ukrainian, or Belarusian. A transliteration of the Russian female given name О́льга (Ólʹga). Borrowed in the 19th century from Old East Slavic О́льга (Ólĭga), name of a Kievan knyaginya (Saint Olga of Kiev), a medieval form of Helga, Old Norse heilagr (“holy; inviolable, sacred”). Doublet of Helga.
What is the origin of the name Olga?
Olga is listed as a name of Russian origin.
How popular is the name Olga?
Since 1880, 61,872 girls and 198 boys in the U.S. have been named Olga (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #126 in 1916. Its highest rank for boys was #2663 in 1942. In 2025, 50 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Olga a boy or girl name?
Olga is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 61,872 girls and 198 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.