Oliver: Meaning, Popularity, Origin of Baby Name Oliver | Boys
Origin of the name Oliver:
Derived from the French Olivier, which is generally considered to be from the Old French olivier (olive tree). Some believe it is of Germanic origin, however, and is thus probably from the Middle Low German Alfihar, a compound name composed of the elements alf (elf) and hari (army): hence, "elf army."
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US Popularity of Oliver Over Time
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- Comments and insights on the name Oliver: | Edit
My Friends older brother was named Oliver but the parents changed his name when he was a couple of moths old to Gregory because they hated how everyone kept calling him Ollie.
- Personal experiences with the name Oliver: | Edit
I chose the name Oliver for my third son (2007) and am very happy with my decision. It's in the 'just right' spot (in North America at least) of familiar and yet not overly trendy. Everyone who meets him seems to think his name is charming, and it always brings a little surprised smile to people's faces.
I named my second son Oliver(2008). It's not too trendy and it's a nice classic name all of my other children have classic names. Great name and it fits my son to a tee.
I also named my second son Oliver (2009). He is a super easy-going, mellow, easy baby! He fits his name perfectly, and I am so happy we chose it!
(10/18/10) My four year old son is named Oliver--he is tall with dark curly hair, glasses, and a happy personality, and he's very bright. As soon as people learn his name, everyone says "He is definitely an Oliver!" It's easy to say and spell, it's recognizable but not TOO common or trendy, and it's cute as a little boy but will easily grow with him into a great man's name.
- Nicknames for Oliver: | Edit
Ollie, Oli, Olaf, Iver, Ive, Ivy, Nole, Noll, Noli, Vero, Liv, Levi, Levy, Olli, Olly, Ollivander,
- Meanings and history of the name Oliver: | Edit
Despite the resemblance to "olive," Oliver is believed to come from an unrelated Germanic root.
- Famous real-life people named Oliver: | Edit
Oliver Stone - American film director
Oliver Hardy - American comic
Oliver Wendell Holmes - American physician and writer
Oliver Reed - English actor
Oliver Phelps - American Deputy Commissary during the Revolution
Oliver Phelps - English actor
Oliver Platt - American actor
Oliver Chris - English actor
Oliver "Oli" Sykes, lead vocalist for the band Bring Me The Horizon- Oliver in song, story & screen: | Edit
Oliver Queen, secret identity of Green Arrow in DC Comics and on Smallville
Oliver Twist, title character of Charles Dickens novel that was made into the musical and movie Oliver!
Oliver Barrett IV, male lead in "Love Story"
Cousin Oliver, from "The Brady Bunch"
Oliver, the redeemed villian of Shakespeare's comedy As You Like It
Oliver Wood, Harry Potter character
Oliver and Company, Disney Animated movie (Oliver is the little orange tabby cat)
Oliver Oken, character in Disney's series "Hannah Montana"
There's an Oliver in several episodes of season one of The OC, played by Taylor Handley
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Name Lists Featuring Oliver
- Danish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Denmark
- Swedish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Sweden
- Norwegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Norway
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (New South Wales)
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Victoria)
- New Zealand Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in New Zealand
- Austrian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Austria
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Ireland
- Finnish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Finland
- Spanish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Spain
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Northern Ireland
- Scottish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Scotland
- Hungarian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Hungary
Global Popularity of the Name Oliver
- #3 in England
- #4 in Denmark
- #5 in Estonia
- #5 in Norway
- #7 in Australia (Victoria)
- #8 in Australia (New South Wales)
- #8 in New Zealand
- #8 in Wales
- #10 in Finland
- #12 in Sweden
- #24 in Canada (British Columbia)
- #24 in Scotland
- #27 in Iceland
- #46 in Hungary
- #52 in Austria
- #65 in Canada (Alberta)
- #85 in Germany
- #118 in United States
- #280 in Canada (Quebec)
