The nameOlga
Olga is a Norse name that became one of the great Russian classics.
- Girl's name
- Old Norse
Meaning
Olga comes from the Old Norse Helga, "holy, blessed".
Origin
Old Norse, through Russian.
History
Saint Olga, princess of Kyiv in the 10th century, was one of the first Christian rulers of the Rus. In the United States Olga reached 126th place in 1916.
Did you know?
- The Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut, aged 17, was the star of the 1972 Munich Games with three gold medals.
Famous people named Olga
- Olga Korbut, gymnast
- Olga Tokarczuk, Nobel prize winning novelist
Popularity of the name Olga
Olga in the United States
Olga was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 12,837 births over the decade, 21% of all recorded babies named Olga. Its rise began around 1888, and it peaked in 1918. Half of all babies named Olga in the United States were born before 1929, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 53 births a year.
Olga in Ireland
Olga was most popular in Ireland in the 1970s, with 269 births over the decade, 53% of all recorded babies named Olga. Half of all babies named Olga in Ireland were born before 1976, so it is mostly a parents' generation name.
Olga in France
Olga in Norway
Sibling names for Olga
Names from the same generation as Olga, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Olga? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Olga with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Olga side by side with the name of your choice.
Olga in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Olga mean?
Olga comes from the Old Norse Helga, "holy, blessed".
What is the origin of the name Olga?
Old Norse, through Russian.
Is Olga a girl's or a boy's name?
Olga is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Olga?
In 2024, Olga was the 3273rd most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 48 births.
What are good sibling names for Olga?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Antoinette, Irma, Gladys and Fabiola for a sister, Claudio, Armand, Rigoberto and Jamil for a brother.
Who are famous people named Olga?
Olga Korbut, gymnast; Olga Tokarczuk, Nobel prize winning novelist.