The nameOlive
Olive is a girl's name taken from the olive tree, a symbol of peace. A Victorian favourite, it has come back in Britain and the United States.
- Girl's name
- English
Meaning
Olive comes from the Latin oliva, the olive tree, whose branch is a symbol of peace.
Origin
English. Olive became a name in the 19th century, alongside other plant names.
History
Olive was popular around 1900, then faded. It came back in the 2010s, reaching the top 50 in England and Wales and the top 100 in the United States. Olive Oyl, Popeye's girlfriend, is a famous cartoon bearer.
Famous people named Olive
- Olive Schreiner, writer
- Olive Morris, activist
- Olive Oyl, Popeye character
Popularity of the name Olive
Olive in the United States
Olive was most popular in the United States in the 1910s, with 12,458 births over the decade, 19% of all recorded babies named Olive. Half of all babies named Olive in the United States were born before 1923, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 1,682 births a year on average, against 1,261 in the five years before.
Olive in the United Kingdom
Olive was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2020s, with 4,588 births over the decade, 57% of all recorded babies named Olive. Its rise began around 2008, and it peaked in 2025. Half of all babies named Olive in the United Kingdom were born before 2021, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 813 births a year on average, against 451 in the five years before.
Olive in Ireland
Olive in France
Sibling names for Olive
Names from the same generation as Olive, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Olive? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Olive with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Olive side by side with the name of your choice.
Olive in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Olive mean?
Olive comes from the Latin oliva, the olive tree, whose branch is a symbol of peace.
What is the origin of the name Olive?
English. Olive became a name in the 19th century, alongside other plant names.
Is Olive a girl's or a boy's name?
Olive is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Olive?
In 2024, Olive was the 170th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 1,778 births.
What are good sibling names for Olive?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: June, Evie, Violet and Rosalie for a sister, Everett, Hudson, Weston and Bennett for a brother.
Who are famous people named Olive?
Olive Schreiner, writer; Olive Morris, activist; Olive Oyl, Popeye character.