Oliver Boy

Popularity: #3 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

Latin; Old French; Germanic

Meaning

Latin: olive tree; Old French: descendant of the ancestor; Germanic: elf army

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Oliver has roots in Latin, where it is derived from 'oliva,' meaning olive tree, symbolizing peace. It gained popularity in medieval Europe, particularly in France and England. The name was notably used in literature, such as in Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist,' which contributed to its enduring appeal.

Trend Summary

Oliver has consistently ranked among the top names for boys in the United States over the past decade.

Similar Names

Owen, Oscar, Oliverio, Omar, Oren, Orson, Odin, Ollie

Variants

  • Ollie
  • Olly

International Variants

  • Olivier (French)
  • Olaf (Scandinavian)
  • Olivo (Italian)

Famous people named Oliver

Oliver Twist: A fictional character in Charles Dickens' novel, representing the struggles of orphaned children in Victorian England.

Oliver Cromwell: An English military and political leader known for his role in the English Civil War.

Oliver Stone: An American film director and producer known for his works on political and historical subjects.

Oliver Sacks: A British neurologist and author known for his books on the human brain and its disorders.

Fictional characters named Oliver

Oliver Queen: The main character in the DC Comics series 'Green Arrow,' known for his vigilante justice.

Oliver O'Sullivan: A character in the animated series 'The Amazing World of Gumball,' known for his quirky personality.

Sibling Suggestions

EthanLucasHenryJamesCharlotteAmelia

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Oliver was first seen in the United States in 1880. Oliver has ranked as high as #3 nationally which occurred in 2024 and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Oliver has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Oliver (2024)

StateBirthsShare
CA 1,544
11%
TX 1,314
9%
FL 840
6%
NY 673
5%
OH 617
4%
PA 597
4%
IL 556
4%
NC 536
4%
GA 460
3%
MI 454
3%
WA 448
3%
TN 427
3%
MO 425
3%
IN 397
3%
VA 391
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
1880234
1881238
1882244
1883219
1884245
1885258
1886230
1887203
1888206
1889210
1890218
1891212
1892238
1893214
1894222
1895216
1896194
1897174
1898186
1899161
1900256
1901187
1902181
1903210
1904200
1905211
1906183
1907207
1908207
1909246
1910307
1911333
1912646
1913644
1914861
19151,131
19161,103
19171,175
19181,248
19191,209
19201,164
19211,194
19221,214
19231,221
19241,172
19251,049
19261,065
19271,002
1928934
1929885
1930850
1931778
1932741
1933595
1934732
1935647
1936591
1937609
1938568
1939598
1940582
1941601
1942612
1943668
1944565
1945558
1946619
1947624
1948631
1949597
1950556
1951552
1952555
1953521
1954537
1955507
1956483
1957452
1958453
1959371
1960370
1961348
1962312
1963358
1964367
1965303
1966337
1967290
1968325
1969329
1970366
1971416
1972368
1973374
1974347
1975355
1976336
1977338
1978422
1979408
1980393
1981403
1982455
1983434
1984397
1985371
1986338
1987461
1988440
1989460
1990625
1991582
1992664
1993665
1994643
1995597
1996607
1997669
1998735
1999782
2000978
2001978
20021,166
20031,374
20041,491
20051,793
20062,352
20072,910
20083,604
20094,287
20104,664
20115,413
20125,922
20137,275
20149,450
201511,667
201613,065
201713,224
201813,499
201913,964
202014,275
202114,707
202215,161
202314,782
202415,343