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Olivia

/ə-LIV-ee-ə/

Olivia is a girl name of Latin origin, meaning Olive tree.

  • GenderGirl
  • OriginLatin
  • StyleModern
  • Syllables3
  • US rank#1

What does Olivia mean?

Olive tree

Olivia derives from the Latin oliva, "olive". The olive branch has stood for peace and reconciliation since antiquity, which gives the name an unusually pleasant literal sense.

The story behind the name

Olivia appears in medieval records only sparsely. Its real entry into English is usually credited to Shakespeare, who gave the name to the wealthy countess of Twelfth Night around 1601. Whether he coined it or borrowed an existing rare form is not settled, but he is certainly why English speakers know it.

The name stayed quietly in use for three centuries and then accelerated dramatically from the 1990s onward, helped along by Olivia Newton-John and by a general revival of soft, vowel-heavy names ending in -a.

It reached number one for girls in the United States in 2019 and has stayed there, and it has topped the charts in England and Wales repeatedly as well.

Notable people named Olivia

  • Olivia, countess in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
  • Olivia de Havilland, actor
  • Olivia Newton-John, singer
  • Olivia Colman, actor
  • Olivia Rodrigo, singer-songwriter

How popular is Olivia?

Popularity in the United States

Olivia has been given to 489,456 babies in the United States since 1880, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

About 1 in 94 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.

09,92319,846188019502020
Babies named Olivia per year in the United States, 1880–2020. Source: Social Security Administration

Popularity in France

Olivia has been given to 45,078 babies in France since 1900, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.

07981,595190019612022
Babies named Olivia per year in France, 1900–2022. Source: INSEE

Popularity in Spain

There are 19,825 people called Olivia living in Spain, with an average age of 14.1.

489,456 Babies named since 1880
2010s Peak decade
Rising Recent trend

Variants and related names

Other spellings: Olive, Olivya, Alivia

Related names: Olive, Oliver, Livia, Liv

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Frequently asked questions about Olivia

What does the name Olivia mean?

Olivia means Olive tree. It is of Latin origin.

Is Olivia a boy's or a girl's name?

Olivia is most often given to girls.

How do you pronounce Olivia?

Olivia is pronounced ə-LIV-ee-ə.

How popular is the name Olivia?

Olivia has been given to 489,456 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 Olivia?

Common variants include Olive, Olivya, Alivia.