Fun Facts About the Name Oliver
- Back among the favorites: Oliver returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 17 consecutive years, through 2025.
- More than 270 thousand babies named Oliver: U.S. records list 270,570 babies given the name Oliver from 1880 through 2025. Even 777 girls received the name Oliver - about 1 girl for every 347 boys.
What Does the Name Oliver Mean?
Oliver is an English and French masculine given name usually explained as meaning "olive tree." It comes from Old French Olivier, from Latin olivarius, a word formed from oliva "olive." In Old French, olivier was the ordinary word for an olive tree, so the personal name is commonly rendered "olive tree" or "olive grower." The Latin ending -arius can mark a person connected with something, which is why some explanations give "olive seller" or "olive cultivator" rather than simply "olive tree."
A competing and less secure explanation connects Oliver with a Germanic name built from elements meaning "elf" and "army." That proposal is not as well supported as the Romance derivation from olivarius, and the name's ultimate origin is not completely certain. The olive-tree meaning remains the one normally given in name dictionaries.
Oliver Name History & Origins
The name is found in medieval Latin as Oliverus and Oliverius and in Old French as Olivier. It was brought to England by the Normans and appears in medieval English records; the English surname Oliver comes from the same given name. French keeps Olivier as its standard form, while English uses Oliver; Spanish and Italian have Oliverio.
The best-known medieval literary bearer is Olivier, the wise companion of Roland in the Old French epic La Chanson de Roland, composed around 1100. That poem made the name familiar in the French-speaking world, but it is a literary use of an existing name, not proof that the poem created it. Later English literature includes Oliver in Shakespeare's As You Like It and the title character of Dickens's Oliver Twist; these are later associations, not the name's source.
In English history, Oliver Cromwell (1599 - 1658) was Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland during the Commonwealth. In Ireland, Oliver Plunkett (1625 - 1681), the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, was executed in London and canonized in 1975. These are specific historical and religious associations rather than turning points in the name's etymology.
How Popular is the Name Oliver?
Oliver has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 37 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 2009 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,359 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 2024 | #5,241 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2023 | #4,837 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 2022 | #4,871 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 2021 | #5,059 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 2020 | #5,448 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2019 | #5,743 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2018 | #6,452 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2017 | #7,745 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #6,845 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2015 | #6,405 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2014 | #8,839 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2013 | #9,470 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #11,996 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2011 | #11,922 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #14,587 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #14,828 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #10,615 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #15,070 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #15,575 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #17,689 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #17,417 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #15,916 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #15,098 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #10,843 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #10,482 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #8,853 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #9,998 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #8,789 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1978 | #7,433 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1977 | #8,157 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #10,397 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1973 | #7,201 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #9,194 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #8,036 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1969 | #6,412 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #6,066 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #7,310 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #4,919 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #6,638 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1953 | #4,488 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #3,501 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1949 | #5,097 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #3,297 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #5,899 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1946 | #4,826 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #5,070 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #3,975 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #2,419 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1942 | #5,180 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1940 | #3,759 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1939 | #4,134 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #4,149 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1935 | #3,102 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1934 | #3,094 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1932 | #4,292 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1931 | #4,223 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1930 | #3,264 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1929 | #2,875 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1928 | #3,673 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1927 | #2,818 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1926 | #5,432 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1925 | #2,737 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1924 | #3,108 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1923 | #3,301 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1922 | #3,316 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1921 | #3,343 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1920 | #3,049 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1919 | #2,956 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1918 | #3,182 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1917 | #3,027 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1916 | #2,215 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1915 | #3,070 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1914 | #2,095 | 12 | 0.0016% |
| 1912 | #2,567 | 7 | 0.0013% |
| 1911 | #2,767 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| 1905 | #1,392 | 9 | 0.0031% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3 | 14,939 | 0.8746% |
| 2024 | #3 | 15,343 | 0.8945% |
| 2023 | #3 | 14,782 | 0.8652% |
| 2022 | #3 | 15,161 | 0.8691% |
| 2021 | #3 | 14,707 | 0.8412% |
| 2020 | #3 | 14,275 | 0.8275% |
| 2019 | #3 | 13,964 | 0.7786% |
| 2018 | #5 | 13,499 | 0.7436% |
| 2017 | #10 | 13,224 | 0.7147% |
| 2016 | #12 | 13,065 | 0.6886% |
| 2015 | #19 | 11,667 | 0.6088% |
| 2014 | #32 | 9,450 | 0.4921% |
| 2013 | #52 | 7,275 | 0.3847% |
| 2012 | #73 | 5,922 | 0.3122% |
| 2011 | #78 | 5,413 | 0.2850% |
| 2010 | #88 | 4,664 | 0.2431% |
| 2009 | #98 | 4,287 | 0.2162% |
| 2008 | #118 | 3,604 | 0.1767% |
| 2007 | #140 | 2,910 | 0.1402% |
| 2006 | #173 | 2,352 | 0.1144% |
| 2005 | #209 | 1,793 | 0.0898% |
| 2004 | #228 | 1,491 | 0.0751% |
| 2003 | #245 | 1,374 | 0.0696% |
| 2002 | #268 | 1,166 | 0.0601% |
| 2001 | #299 | 978 | 0.0503% |
| 2000 | #305 | 978 | 0.0498% |
| 1999 | #340 | 782 | 0.0407% |
| 1998 | #356 | 735 | 0.0385% |
| 1997 | #367 | 669 | 0.0355% |
| 1996 | #386 | 607 | 0.0320% |
| 1995 | #393 | 597 | 0.0314% |
| 1994 | #370 | 643 | 0.0333% |
| 1993 | #355 | 665 | 0.0339% |
| 1992 | #356 | 664 | 0.0332% |
| 1991 | #390 | 582 | 0.0288% |
| 1990 | #373 | 625 | 0.0304% |
| 1989 | #439 | 460 | 0.0230% |
| 1988 | #428 | 440 | 0.0230% |
| 1987 | #405 | 461 | 0.0247% |
| 1986 | #472 | 338 | 0.0184% |
| 1985 | #442 | 371 | 0.0201% |
| 1984 | #416 | 397 | 0.0220% |
| 1983 | #385 | 434 | 0.0242% |
| 1982 | #380 | 455 | 0.0251% |
| 1981 | #410 | 403 | 0.0225% |
| 1980 | #414 | 393 | 0.0220% |
| 1979 | #396 | 408 | 0.0237% |
| 1978 | #375 | 422 | 0.0257% |
| 1977 | #431 | 338 | 0.0206% |
| 1976 | #425 | 336 | 0.0214% |
| 1975 | #408 | 355 | 0.0227% |
| 1974 | #421 | 347 | 0.0221% |
| 1973 | #403 | 374 | 0.0240% |
| 1972 | #412 | 368 | 0.0227% |
| 1971 | #396 | 416 | 0.0235% |
| 1970 | #428 | 366 | 0.0197% |
| 1969 | #437 | 329 | 0.0184% |
| 1968 | #428 | 325 | 0.0187% |
| 1967 | #444 | 290 | 0.0166% |
| 1966 | #412 | 337 | 0.0189% |
| 1965 | #446 | 303 | 0.0163% |
| 1964 | #422 | 367 | 0.0184% |
| 1963 | #427 | 358 | 0.0176% |
| 1962 | #450 | 312 | 0.0151% |
| 1961 | #426 | 348 | 0.0164% |
| 1960 | #413 | 370 | 0.0174% |
| 1959 | #413 | 371 | 0.0174% |
| 1958 | #363 | 453 | 0.0213% |
| 1957 | #358 | 452 | 0.0210% |
| 1956 | #341 | 483 | 0.0228% |
| 1955 | #327 | 507 | 0.0246% |
| 1954 | #310 | 537 | 0.0263% |
| 1953 | #314 | 521 | 0.0264% |
| 1952 | #302 | 555 | 0.0286% |
| 1951 | #294 | 552 | 0.0293% |
| 1950 | #284 | 556 | 0.0311% |
| 1949 | #272 | 597 | 0.0337% |
| 1948 | #258 | 631 | 0.0360% |
| 1947 | #271 | 624 | 0.0341% |
| 1946 | #251 | 619 | 0.0381% |
| 1945 | #239 | 558 | 0.0415% |
| 1944 | #239 | 565 | 0.0415% |
| 1943 | #217 | 668 | 0.0468% |
| 1942 | #228 | 612 | 0.0443% |
| 1941 | #219 | 601 | 0.0489% |
| 1940 | #215 | 582 | 0.0502% |
| 1939 | #203 | 598 | 0.0540% |
| 1938 | #216 | 568 | 0.0512% |
| 1937 | #200 | 609 | 0.0571% |
| 1936 | #205 | 591 | 0.0570% |
| 1935 | #197 | 647 | 0.0621% |
| 1934 | #181 | 732 | 0.0709% |
| 1933 | #199 | 595 | 0.0600% |
| 1932 | #182 | 741 | 0.0710% |
| 1931 | #175 | 778 | 0.0748% |
| 1930 | #170 | 850 | 0.0775% |
| 1929 | #163 | 885 | 0.0823% |
| 1928 | #161 | 934 | 0.0843% |
| 1927 | #157 | 1,002 | 0.0889% |
| 1926 | #150 | 1,065 | 0.0959% |
| 1925 | #151 | 1,049 | 0.0940% |
| 1924 | #140 | 1,172 | 0.1035% |
| 1923 | #136 | 1,221 | 0.1114% |
| 1922 | #134 | 1,214 | 0.1116% |
| 1921 | #135 | 1,194 | 0.1084% |
| 1920 | #135 | 1,164 | 0.1094% |
| 1919 | #128 | 1,209 | 0.1234% |
| 1918 | #130 | 1,248 | 0.1231% |
| 1917 | #127 | 1,175 | 0.1270% |
| 1916 | #127 | 1,103 | 0.1239% |
| 1915 | #119 | 1,131 | 0.1333% |
| 1914 | #122 | 861 | 0.1315% |
| 1913 | #124 | 644 | 0.1256% |
| 1912 | #117 | 646 | 0.1503% |
| 1911 | #115 | 333 | 0.1474% |
| 1910 | #103 | 307 | 0.1581% |
| 1909 | #112 | 246 | 0.1500% |
| 1908 | #122 | 207 | 0.1341% |
| 1907 | #117 | 207 | 0.1410% |
| 1906 | #118 | 183 | 0.1374% |
| 1905 | #102 | 211 | 0.1595% |
| 1904 | #108 | 200 | 0.1561% |
| 1903 | #93 | 210 | 0.1761% |
| 1902 | #107 | 181 | 0.1476% |
| 1901 | #92 | 187 | 0.1756% |
| 1900 | #95 | 256 | 0.1701% |
| 1899 | #109 | 161 | 0.1516% |
| 1898 | #102 | 186 | 0.1516% |
| 1897 | #102 | 174 | 0.1543% |
| 1896 | #99 | 194 | 0.1623% |
| 1895 | #88 | 216 | 0.1840% |
| 1894 | #88 | 222 | 0.1918% |
| 1893 | #86 | 214 | 0.1905% |
| 1892 | #84 | 238 | 0.1950% |
| 1891 | #77 | 212 | 0.2095% |
| 1890 | #81 | 218 | 0.1964% |
| 1889 | #84 | 210 | 0.1899% |
| 1888 | #88 | 206 | 0.1705% |
| 1887 | #80 | 203 | 0.2002% |
| 1886 | #75 | 230 | 0.2076% |
| 1885 | #72 | 258 | 0.2393% |
| 1884 | #74 | 245 | 0.2141% |
| 1883 | #72 | 219 | 0.2093% |
| 1882 | #72 | 244 | 0.2146% |
| 1881 | #67 | 238 | 0.2363% |
| 1880 | #69 | 234 | 0.2118% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Oliver
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Oliver Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are patient, persevering and strong willed. You are a good student, absorbing knowledge easily and retaining it well. You are either a saint or a sinner. You tend to hold things inside and suffer in silence. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Oliver's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Oliver's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.