Fun Facts About the Name Olivia
- An established favorite: Olivia held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 36 consecutive years, from 1990 through 2025.
- More than 567 thousand babies named Olivia: U.S. records list 567,999 babies given the name Olivia from 1880 through 2025. Even 791 boys received the name Olivia - about 1 boy for every 717 girls.
What Does the Name Olivia Mean?
Olivia is usually explained as meaning "olive," from the Latin oliva, the word for the olive fruit and the olive tree. The same Latin root lies behind the medieval name Oliva, which appears in Italy and other parts of Europe before the name reached England.
A second explanation treats Olivia as a feminine form of the masculine name Oliver. Oliver's own origin is disputed: it has been traced to the Old Norse Óláfr, to a Germanic compound often rendered as Alfhar (roughly "elf army"), and to the Latin olivarius, meaning an olive grower or seller. Since Oliver's etymology is unsettled, the connection between the two names cannot be confirmed, and the derivation from Latin oliva is the one given most often.
The link between the olive and peace - the olive branch as a sign of reconciliation - is a later symbolic association, not part of the name's literal meaning.
Olivia Name History & Origins
The earliest known use of Olivia as a personal name is in William Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night, written about 1601, where it belongs to the Countess Olivia. No earlier English example has been documented. Because the name surfaces first in that play, it has often been described as Shakespeare's invention, though related forms such as Oliva were already in use on the European continent, so he may have adapted a name that already existed elsewhere.
After Twelfth Night the name began to appear in England. It was used at first only occasionally, and spellings varied, with Oliva and Olivia both recorded. Over the following centuries it spread through the English-speaking world and also settled into Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Scandinavian use, where it kept roughly the same form.
Olivia grew steadily more common in the later 20th century. In the United States it became the most frequently given name for girls beginning in 2019, and it has also ranked at or near the top of girls' name lists in England and Wales in the same period.
How Popular is the Name Olivia?
Olivia remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1990 to 2025. Its highest annual birth count was in 2014, and people born that year turn 12 in 2026.
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 | #1 | 13,544 | 0.8427% |
| 2024 | #1 | 14,718 | 0.9124% |
| 2023 | #1 | 15,313 | 0.9555% |
| 2022 | #1 | 16,654 | 1.0163% |
| 2021 | #1 | 17,841 | 1.0881% |
| 2020 | #1 | 17,682 | 1.0945% |
| 2019 | #1 | 18,569 | 1.1069% |
| 2018 | #2 | 18,055 | 1.0618% |
| 2017 | #2 | 18,777 | 1.0880% |
| 2016 | #2 | 19,409 | 1.0956% |
| 2015 | #2 | 19,726 | 1.1053% |
| 2014 | #2 | 19,836 | 1.1107% |
| 2013 | #3 | 18,453 | 1.0518% |
| 2012 | #4 | 17,332 | 0.9844% |
| 2011 | #4 | 17,334 | 0.9856% |
| 2010 | #4 | 17,037 | 0.9586% |
| 2009 | #3 | 17,443 | 0.9496% |
| 2008 | #4 | 17,087 | 0.9037% |
| 2007 | #7 | 16,588 | 0.8629% |
| 2006 | #7 | 15,507 | 0.8157% |
| 2005 | #5 | 15,699 | 0.8497% |
| 2004 | #4 | 16,108 | 0.8773% |
| 2003 | #5 | 16,154 | 0.8842% |
| 2002 | #10 | 14,630 | 0.8142% |
| 2001 | #10 | 13,977 | 0.7763% |
| 2000 | #16 | 12,855 | 0.7079% |
| 1999 | #20 | 11,257 | 0.6346% |
| 1998 | #21 | 10,610 | 0.6005% |
| 1997 | #27 | 9,479 | 0.5446% |
| 1996 | #34 | 8,125 | 0.4635% |
| 1995 | #39 | 7,626 | 0.4337% |
| 1994 | #50 | 6,432 | 0.3602% |
| 1993 | #50 | 6,343 | 0.3506% |
| 1992 | #58 | 5,811 | 0.3151% |
| 1991 | #61 | 5,602 | 0.2988% |
| 1990 | #72 | 4,628 | 0.2438% |
| 1989 | #122 | 2,439 | 0.1323% |
| 1988 | #134 | 2,141 | 0.1202% |
| 1987 | #166 | 1,700 | 0.0978% |
| 1986 | #215 | 1,234 | 0.0719% |
| 1985 | #248 | 1,025 | 0.0596% |
| 1984 | #222 | 1,166 | 0.0692% |
| 1983 | #228 | 1,089 | 0.0652% |
| 1982 | #228 | 1,127 | 0.0666% |
| 1981 | #245 | 1,024 | 0.0614% |
| 1980 | #229 | 1,116 | 0.0672% |
| 1979 | #210 | 1,254 | 0.0781% |
| 1978 | #199 | 1,312 | 0.0856% |
| 1977 | #225 | 1,105 | 0.0721% |
| 1976 | #196 | 1,233 | 0.0842% |
| 1975 | #232 | 1,049 | 0.0720% |
| 1974 | #400 | 507 | 0.0345% |
| 1973 | #489 | 360 | 0.0247% |
| 1972 | #504 | 345 | 0.0227% |
| 1971 | #543 | 335 | 0.0201% |
| 1970 | #542 | 349 | 0.0200% |
| 1969 | #526 | 348 | 0.0206% |
| 1968 | #530 | 324 | 0.0198% |
| 1967 | #510 | 347 | 0.0210% |
| 1966 | #516 | 334 | 0.0197% |
| 1965 | #456 | 442 | 0.0250% |
| 1964 | #471 | 425 | 0.0224% |
| 1963 | #460 | 448 | 0.0232% |
| 1962 | #466 | 428 | 0.0218% |
| 1961 | #467 | 435 | 0.0216% |
| 1960 | #442 | 484 | 0.0239% |
| 1959 | #435 | 489 | 0.0242% |
| 1958 | #388 | 557 | 0.0277% |
| 1957 | #403 | 521 | 0.0255% |
| 1956 | #386 | 536 | 0.0267% |
| 1955 | #351 | 604 | 0.0309% |
| 1954 | #335 | 645 | 0.0332% |
| 1953 | #333 | 620 | 0.0330% |
| 1952 | #305 | 694 | 0.0374% |
| 1951 | #304 | 665 | 0.0369% |
| 1950 | #275 | 769 | 0.0449% |
| 1949 | #259 | 854 | 0.0499% |
| 1948 | #261 | 848 | 0.0499% |
| 1947 | #255 | 857 | 0.0483% |
| 1946 | #268 | 728 | 0.0463% |
| 1945 | #278 | 621 | 0.0475% |
| 1944 | #245 | 730 | 0.0550% |
| 1943 | #267 | 694 | 0.0497% |
| 1942 | #253 | 742 | 0.0549% |
| 1941 | #265 | 587 | 0.0486% |
| 1940 | #269 | 540 | 0.0472% |
| 1939 | #296 | 428 | 0.0390% |
| 1938 | #299 | 445 | 0.0403% |
| 1937 | #312 | 393 | 0.0369% |
| 1936 | #311 | 381 | 0.0366% |
| 1935 | #332 | 365 | 0.0348% |
| 1934 | #330 | 359 | 0.0344% |
| 1933 | #326 | 370 | 0.0367% |
| 1932 | #320 | 399 | 0.0374% |
| 1931 | #327 | 380 | 0.0357% |
| 1930 | #328 | 402 | 0.0357% |
| 1929 | #312 | 458 | 0.0410% |
| 1928 | #311 | 442 | 0.0383% |
| 1927 | #299 | 499 | 0.0418% |
| 1926 | #308 | 466 | 0.0393% |
| 1925 | #293 | 527 | 0.0433% |
| 1924 | #299 | 501 | 0.0401% |
| 1923 | #281 | 528 | 0.0438% |
| 1922 | #280 | 536 | 0.0446% |
| 1921 | #294 | 502 | 0.0407% |
| 1920 | #287 | 523 | 0.0436% |
| 1919 | #295 | 471 | 0.0417% |
| 1918 | #296 | 466 | 0.0403% |
| 1917 | #285 | 476 | 0.0440% |
| 1916 | #283 | 446 | 0.0427% |
| 1915 | #302 | 372 | 0.0378% |
| 1914 | #285 | 340 | 0.0446% |
| 1913 | #279 | 287 | 0.0460% |
| 1912 | #264 | 285 | 0.0511% |
| 1911 | #283 | 191 | 0.0457% |
| 1910 | #266 | 211 | 0.0532% |
| 1909 | #270 | 179 | 0.0516% |
| 1908 | #263 | 181 | 0.0541% |
| 1907 | #263 | 171 | 0.0537% |
| 1906 | #241 | 181 | 0.0613% |
| 1905 | #265 | 153 | 0.0525% |
| 1904 | #250 | 157 | 0.0570% |
| 1903 | #272 | 130 | 0.0496% |
| 1902 | #273 | 130 | 0.0492% |
| 1901 | #259 | 126 | 0.0526% |
| 1900 | #251 | 167 | 0.0557% |
| 1899 | #274 | 110 | 0.0472% |
| 1898 | #251 | 141 | 0.0545% |
| 1897 | #247 | 131 | 0.0559% |
| 1896 | #270 | 114 | 0.0479% |
| 1895 | #262 | 117 | 0.0501% |
| 1894 | #240 | 127 | 0.0570% |
| 1893 | #259 | 107 | 0.0503% |
| 1892 | #264 | 101 | 0.0476% |
| 1891 | #311 | 66 | 0.0356% |
| 1890 | #271 | 85 | 0.0446% |
| 1889 | #234 | 100 | 0.0561% |
| 1888 | #276 | 71 | 0.0397% |
| 1887 | #253 | 69 | 0.0473% |
| 1886 | #242 | 72 | 0.0498% |
| 1885 | #261 | 59 | 0.0443% |
| 1884 | #267 | 54 | 0.0419% |
| 1883 | #268 | 46 | 0.0410% |
| 1882 | #240 | 52 | 0.0482% |
| 1881 | #215 | 51 | 0.0555% |
| 1880 | #235 | 44 | 0.0484% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,067 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #5,811 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2023 | #11,865 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #5,798 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2021 | #8,648 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #6,533 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2019 | #7,063 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2018 | #8,636 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #6,990 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #5,716 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2015 | #8,527 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #4,355 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #4,145 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2012 | #5,197 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #5,368 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2010 | #3,779 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2009 | #5,251 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #3,545 | 31 | 0.0015% |
| 2007 | #5,368 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #5,244 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 2005 | #4,025 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2004 | #1,745 | 73 | 0.0037% |
| 2003 | #3,936 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2002 | #4,650 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #6,324 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #9,984 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #4,110 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #4,353 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1997 | #5,186 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #5,100 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #5,032 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #5,767 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #7,393 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #4,268 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #5,811 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #3,910 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #2,277 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1988 | #5,095 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #4,168 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #5,757 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #5,412 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #5,328 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #6,993 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #5,854 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #6,497 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #4,965 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #5,419 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #3,857 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #5,776 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #3,823 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1944 | #3,777 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #3,462 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #3,403 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #3,887 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1935 | #3,543 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1933 | #4,014 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1931 | #3,313 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1930 | #3,212 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1929 | #3,460 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #4,716 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #4,214 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1923 | #3,720 | 7 | 0.0006% |
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 Olivia
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.
Most Popular Girl Names at All Time
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How the Name Olivia 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 are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Olivia's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Olivia's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.