Oliver
Oliver: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɑlɪvɚ/ · /ˈɒlɪvə/
Meaning and origin of Oliver
Root meaning: “ancestral + relic”
- A male given name from the Germanic languages.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English Oliver, from Old French Olivier, by folk etymology derived from the Latin name Olīvārius, but probably representing an Old High German form of Old Norse Óleifr (“ancestral + relic”) (modern Danish Olaf and Swedish Olof), or Proto-Germanic *ala- (“all”) + *wēraz (“true”) (modern Swedish allvar). Name of a paladin of Charlemagne in medieval French romance.
How popular is Oliver?
Since 1880, 777 girls and 269,903 boys in the U.S. have been named Oliver (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1392 in 1905. Its highest rank for boys was #3 in 2019. In 2025 it ranked #3 for boys, with 14,963 babies given the name.
Names similar to Oliver
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Oliver
Sister and brother names that share Oliver's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Oliver FAQ
What does the name Oliver mean?
Oliver traces back to a root meaning "ancestral + relic". A male given name from the Germanic languages. Inherited from Middle English Oliver, from Old French Olivier, by folk etymology derived from the Latin name Olīvārius, but probably representing an Old High German form of Old Norse Óleifr (“ancestral + relic”) (modern Danish Olaf and Swedish Olof), or Proto-Germanic *ala- (“all”) + *wēraz (“true”) (modern Swedish allvar). Name of a paladin of Charlemagne in medieval French romance.
What is the origin of the name Oliver?
Oliver is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Oliver?
Since 1880, 777 girls and 269,903 boys in the U.S. have been named Oliver (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1392 in 1905. Its highest rank for boys was #3 in 2019. In 2025 it ranked #3 for boys, with 14,963 babies given the name.
Is Oliver a boy or girl name?
Oliver is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 777 girls and 269,903 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.