The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Olivia!

Comments and insights on the name Olivia: | Edit

my mother apparently chose my name (Olivia) because she did not know any others and the names wasn't popular. little did she know that at one point in my high school career i would have 3 other Olivia;s in my class. i never appreciated my names but I've realized it is a very tasteful names as it is feminine yet strong and sophisticated. It can be cutesy (Livvy-Lu as my father called me), or sharp (Livv.)it really is the names that has everything.
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Olivia "travels well" as evidenced by her high ranking in quite a few countries. It has the same spelling in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Finnish, German and Hungarian, making it a great choice for parents who anticipate a lot of travel or who want a name that extended family members around the world can easily pronounce.

Olivia is very stylish right now- it has the same charm as names like Hannah and Emma and the cute nickname Livvy and Liv. There's not many names that sound like Olivia, so it's not easily mixed up with other names.

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Olivia is a very beatiful and elegant name. When I think of an Olivia I think of dark elegance and striking beauty.

I had always wanted to name my daughter after the mother on the Waltons, and I did so in 1990, when the name was still rare, little knowing it would be just before the huge "Olivia" wave hit. The name has other associations here in Europe--it is seen as quite a sexy name and at least one famous German drag queen uses it. It is the sort of lovely-sounding name that makes a plain woman more intriguing and a pretty woman even more beautiful, and it always sounds intelligent.

My name is Olivia and it's funny because above it says "intelligent" and I was very intelligent through elementary school. I was named Olivia before the big Olivia hit. Someone else commented on how Olivia means "elf army", and I happen to be in the 18th percent range for height for teens my age.

My name is Olivia and I really like it. I didn't so much when I was younger but I have come to appreciate it. It can be so many things - cute, sophisticated, sexy, etc. I also really like the meaning ("peace"). It's interesting so many new little ones are being named this now. Not many people had it when I was growing up. I only ever met one other girl with my name. Now it's interesting to meet all these little Olivias!

My cousin's name is Olivia. She's a loony! :P

Olivia is #3 on the list of top 100 cool baby girl names in the baby name book "Cool Names" by Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz.

Personal experiences with the name Olivia: | Edit

Many of the Olivias I have met are very beautiful and intelligent. When I hear the name Olivia, I see a pretty girl who's smart.

I have loved the name Olivia since I was a little girl. It was never very popular and now all of a sudden it's the hot name! I am sad because I liked it for its beauty and originality.

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We named our first daughter Olivia Renee Eleanor. Olivia was chosen not only because we love the sound of it but also because her Daddy has always wanted his first daughter to be an Olivia since he was a little boy. We chose two middle names to honor myself (her mom) and her grandma. We love this name and it fits her perfectly! :-)

Nicknames for Olivia: | Edit

Lily, Vivia, Viv, Liwy, Liv, Livvy, Lulu, Olive, Livy, Livi, Lia, Ollie, O, Ye ye, Livilulu, Livers, Liver, Via,livylu

Meanings and history of the name Olivia: | Edit

I have discovered from research that Olivia means "elf army". Olivia is also known to mean "bringer of peace".

Meaning "The Olive Tree." Extends help, like a branch

Famous real-life people named Olivia: | Edit

Olivia de Havilland, actress (Gone With the Wind)
Olivia Hussey, actress (Romeo and Juliet)
Olivia Newton-John, actress (Grease, Xanadu)and singer
Olivia Lufkin, Japanese-American singer
Olivia Wilde, actress (House)

Olivia in song, story & screen: | Edit

Olivia Walton, warm maternal character in the 1970s television series "The Waltons"
"Olivia" picture books by Ian Falconer about a creative young pig
Olivia Benson on Law and Order's SVU
Olivia is the beautiful Countess in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night"
Olivia was Gordon's younger sister on Sesame Street in the '70s and '80s
Olivia, character played by Hilary Duff on Gossip Girl TV series
Olivia, adorable, little girl character, played by Raven-Symone, on "The Cosby Show" in the 1980s-90s
Olivia is a semi-main character in the movie The Great Mouse Detective