Oliver
/OL-i-vər/
Oliver is a boy name of Latin origin, meaning Olive tree; or elf army.
- GenderBoy
- OriginLatin
- StyleModern
- Syllables3
- US rank#3
What does Oliver mean?
Olive tree; or elf army
Oliver has two competing derivations and scholars have not settled it. The obvious reading is the Latin oliva, "olive tree". The alternative is that the French Olivier is a reshaping of the Old Norse Áleifr (Olaf), meaning roughly "ancestor's descendant", pulled toward the olive word by folk etymology.
The story behind the name
Oliver enters European literature as one of Charlemagne's paladins in the Song of Roland - Roland's closest friend and the more prudent of the two, which gave English the old phrase 'a Roland for an Oliver' for a fair exchange.
In England the name suffered badly for its association with Oliver Cromwell, and after the Restoration it fell out of use for the better part of two centuries. Dickens did not help by attaching it to a workhouse orphan.
Its recovery is entirely modern, and complete: Oliver has been the most popular boys' name in England and Wales for much of the 2010s and reached number one in the United States in 2022.
Notable people named Oliver
- Oliver, paladin of Charlemagne in the Song of Roland
- Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector
- Oliver Twist, Dickens character
- Oliver Sacks, neurologist and writer
How popular is Oliver?
Popularity in the United States
Oliver has been given to 195,251 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
About 1 in 116 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.
Popularity in France
Oliver has been given to 2,048 babies in France since 1962, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
Popularity in Spain
There are 19,949 people called Oliver living in Spain, with an average age of 14.5.
Variants and related names
Other spellings: Olivier, Olivor, Oliwier
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Start swiping - it's freeFrequently asked questions about Oliver
What does the name Oliver mean?
Oliver means Olive tree; or elf army. It is of Latin origin.
Is Oliver a boy's or a girl's name?
Oliver is most often given to boys.
How do you pronounce Oliver?
Oliver is pronounced OL-i-vər.
How popular is the name Oliver?
Oliver has been given to 195,251 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
What are other spellings of Oliver?
Common variants include Olivier, Olivor, Oliwier.