The nameOlivia
Olivia is a girl's name of Latin origin linked to the olive tree, a symbol of peace. Popularised by Shakespeare, it is the most popular girls' name in both the United States and England.
- Girl's name
- Latin
- Feast day
Meaning
Olivia comes from the Latin oliva, "olive". The olive branch has stood for peace since Antiquity and in the Bible, where a dove brings one back to Noah's ark.
Origin
Latin, through English. Shakespeare gave the name to the countess Olivia in Twelfth Night, written around 1601, which made it known in England.
History
Olivia rose steadily in the English-speaking world from the 1990s. In England and Wales it has been the top girls' name almost every year since 2008, and in the United States it has ranked first every year since 2019. Oliver is the masculine name from the same family.
Olivia in other languages
Olivia is spelled the same in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and the Nordic countries. It is Oliwia in Polish.
Nicknames for Olivia
The most common nicknames for Olivia: Liv, Livvy and Ollie.
Did you know?
- Shakespeare gave the name to Countess Olivia in Twelfth Night, written around 1601.
- Olivia has been the most popular girls' name in the United States every year since 2019.
- The actress Olivia de Havilland, a two time Oscar winner, died in Paris in 2020 at the age of 104.
Famous people named Olivia
- Olivia de Havilland, actress
- Olivia Newton-John, singer and actress
- Olivia Colman, actress
- Olivia Rodrigo, singer
Popularity of the name Olivia
Olivia in the United States
Olivia was most popular in the United States in the 2010s, with 184,696 births over the decade, 33% of all recorded babies named Olivia. Its rise began around 1988, and it peaked in 2014. Half of all babies named Olivia in the United States were born before 2009, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 16,454 births a year.
Olivia in the United Kingdom
Olivia was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 54,231 births over the decade, 40% of all recorded babies named Olivia. Half of all babies named Olivia in the United Kingdom were born before 2011, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 3,411 births a year on average, against 5,116 in the five years before.
Olivia in Ireland
Olivia in France
Olivia in Belgium
Olivia in Switzerland
Olivia in Austria
Olivia in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Olivia
Names from the same generation as Olivia, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Olivia? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Olivia with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Olivia side by side with the name of your choice.
Olivia in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Olivia mean?
Olivia comes from the Latin oliva, "olive". The olive branch has stood for peace since Antiquity and in the Bible, where a dove brings one back to Noah's ark.
What is the origin of the name Olivia?
Latin, through English. Shakespeare gave the name to the countess Olivia in Twelfth Night, written around 1601, which made it known in England.
Is Olivia a girl's or a boy's name?
Olivia is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Olivia?
In 2024, Olivia was the 1st most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 14,718 births.
What are the variants of the name Olivia?
Variants and related names of Olivia include Livia.
What are good sibling names for Olivia?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Claire, Emma, Natalia and Zoe for a sister, Julian, Elijah, Vincent and Sebastian for a brother.
What are common nicknames for Olivia?
The most common nicknames for Olivia are Liv, Livvy and Ollie.
Who are famous people named Olivia?
Olivia de Havilland, actress; Olivia Newton-John, singer and actress; Olivia Colman, actress; Olivia Rodrigo, singer.