Oliver Name Meaning & Origin
Oliver
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."
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
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US Popularity of Oliver Over Time

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Name Lists Featuring Oliver
- Danish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Denmark 2014
- Swedish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Sweden 2014
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (New South Wales) 2014
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Victoria) 2014
- New Zealand Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in New Zealand 2014
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in the Republic of Ireland 2014
- Finnish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Finland 2014
- English and Welsh Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in England and Wales (2013)
- Spanish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Spain 2014
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Northern Ireland 2014
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (British Columbia) 2014
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Alberta) 2014
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Saskatchewan) 2014
- Swiss Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Switzerland (Italian)
- Scottish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Scotland 2014
- Hungarian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Hungary 2014
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (New South Wales), 2010
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Victoria), 2010
- New Zealand Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in New Zealand, 2010
- Austrian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Austria, 2010
- Danish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Denmark, 2010
- Finnish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Finland, 2010
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Ireland, 2010
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Northern Ireland, 2010
- Norwegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Norway, 2010
- Scottish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Scotland, 2011
- Spanish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Spain, 2010
- Swedish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Sweden, 2010
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (British Columbia) for 2013
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Alberta) for 2013
- English and Welsh Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in England and Wales
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (British Columbia) for 2012
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Alberta) for 2012
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Nova Scotia) 2014
- English Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in England
- Welsh Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Wales
- Scottish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Scotland for 2012
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Northern Ireland for 2012
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in the Republic of Ireland for 2012
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (New South Wales) for 2012
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Victoria) for 2012
- New Zealand Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in New Zealand for 2012
- Danish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Denmark for 2012.
- Swedish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Sweden for 2012
- Norwegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Norway for 2012
- Finnish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Finland for 2012
- Icelandic Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Iceland 2014
- Spanish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Spain 2012
- Taswegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Tasmania 2014
- Austrian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Austria 2012
- Estonian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Estonia 2014
- Hungarian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Hungary 2010
- Scottish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Scotland
- Spanish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Spain
- German Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Germany
- Danish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Denmark
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Northern Ireland
- Irish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in the Republic of Ireland
- Icelandic Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Iceland
- Swedish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Sweden
- Estonian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Estonia
- Finnish Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Finland
- Norwegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Norway
- Hungarian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Hungary
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Ontario)
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Alberta)
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (British Columbia)
- Canadian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Canada (Nova Scotia)
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (New South Wales)
- Taswegian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Tasmania
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Victoria)
- New Zealand Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in New Zealand
- Swiss Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Switzerland
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Western)
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Northern)
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Southern)
- Australian Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in Australia (Queensland)
- English Boys Names: Most Popular Names for Boys in England
Contribute your knowledge to the name Oliver
- Comments and insights on the name Oliver
It usually belongs to a person who is stubborn ,impatient and confident.
At first they may seem cold and closed off but once you get them out of their shells, you will see that they are one of the most social people you'll ever meet
Their favorite place to eat is Olive Garden
Likely to be ginger and into musical theatre, he's alright I gues- Personal experiences with the name Oliver
I have a boyfriend named Oliver (2019) and he is a a sweetheart. He likes to pretend he's tough and all but in reality he's like a lovable and huggable teddy bear. I love you bish
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!
I know a little Oliver, he never gets called Ollie but his mom and little sister sometimes call him Olive.
My son Oliver (2011) is 3. He has really grown into his name. He is smart as a whip, a little comedian, but strong willed and opinionated! It suits him perfectly!
(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.
Someone in my neighborhood has boy/girl twins, their names are Nettie (short for Annette) and Oliver. ADORABLE!
My little brothers called Oliver. A very popular name but is often called Olive, especially by family.
I named my first son Oliver. We didn't know what to name him and Oliver just came to us when we found out he was going to be a boy. Even though we doubted it all the way through, he is definitely an Oliver. We call him Olly or Ol. Not Ollie.
My mate Ollie is pretty legit, play him a showtune and he'll bust out a full routine, absolutely class
- Nicknames for Oliver
Ollie, Oli, Levy, Olli, Olly, Olive, Liver, Noll, Potty, Nerdface, Cool Guy
- Meanings and history of the name Oliver
Oliver comes from the Norman French name Olivier, but the spelling was altered due to its resemblance to the Latin word "oliva" meaning "olive tree". The original, Olivier, is believed to either come from an old Germanic name (such as Alfher "elf army") or an Old Norse name, Áliefr (modern Olaf), meaning "ancestor's descendant."
The name became wellknown in Western Europe during middle ages due to the popular epic "The Song of Roland." Olivier was the friend and advisor of Roland, the epic's hero.
Oliver was common in England until the 17th century when it fell out of favor due to association with Oliver Cromwell.
- Famous real-life people named Oliver
Oliver Lanning ~ YouTube Baby on DailyBumps
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 Sykes - Bring Me the Horizon lead vocalist
Oliver Hudson- actor, son of Bill Hudson and Goldie Hawn/very handsome. Was in the sitcom Rules of Engagement.
Oliver Cowdery - scribe and translator of the Book of Mormon
Oliver Riedel - German metal band Rammstein bassist
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - NHL Phoenix Coyotes defenseman
Oliver Savage (b. 2006), son of American actor, television director, and producer Fred Savage
Oliver Shane Hawkins (b. 2007), son of American musician Taylor Hawkins
Oliver Francis Followill (b. 2018), son of American rock drummer Nathan Followill, brother to Violet Marlowe- Oliver in song, story & screen
Oliver Wood, Harry Potter character- captain of the Gryffindor quidditch team at Hogwarts and the only real celebrity with this name
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 Hampton, character in American TV series 'How to Get Away with Murder'
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
Oliver "Ollie" Hackers, one of Spiggie Lomer's grade school crushes and listed on her "Men In My Life" list, in the comic blog The Greasers of Hazzick Flats http://www.thegreasersofhazzickflats.blogspot.com
Oliver from Call Me by Your Name