Oliver is a name of Old French and Latin origin that dates back to old England and the Norse word Aleifr, meaning ‘ancestor’s descendants’. The name is often associated with the Latin term ‘olivarius’, which means ‘olive tree planter’.
Historically, the olive tree has been a symbol of peace and fruitfulness, and so the name has come to reflect a classic and peaceful appeal. Oliver is a timeless boy’s name that never goes out of style and can be shortened in several ways with common nicknames including Ollie, Oly, and Ol.
- Name Origin: English/Norse/Latin
- Name Meaning: Ancestor’s descendant’s or olive tree planter
- Pronunciation: Oli – Ver
- Gender: Male
How Popular is the Name Oliver?
The name Oliver was popular during the medieval period in England. However, by the 17th century, the boy’s name started to fall out of favor due to its association with the political leader, Oliver Cromwell. However, there was a resurgence in the 1800s and 1900s and the name remains popular today.
According to data from the Social Security Administration, the name ranked at number 135 in the year 1921. 100 years later, in 2021, the boy’s name ranked number 3 in the popularity chart and 14,616 baby boys were given the name that same year.
Name Variations
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Olivier | Olive tree | French |
| Oliwer | Look alike of olive plant | Polish |
| Olivio | Olive tree | Portuguese |
| Oliviero | Olive | Italian |
| Olivér | Olive tree | Hungarian |
Other English Boy Names
| Name | Meaning |
| Alfred | Wise counsel |
| Caldwell | Cold spring |
| Godric | God’s ruler |
| Kendrick | Royal power |
| Oscar | Friend |
| Brandon | Fiery hill |
| Bradley | Old meadow |
Alternative Boy Names Starting with ‘O’
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Odis | Wealth | German |
| Odin | God of War | Norse |
| Ocean | Sea | Greek |
| Ori | My light | Hebrew |
| Oz | Powerful and courageous | Hebrew |
| Oxley | From the ox | English |
| Ori | Charitable king | India |
Famous People Named Oliver
- Oliver Cromwell – English political leader
- Oliver Stone – American director, actor, conspiracy theorist and writer
- Oliver Hardy – American comedic actor
- Oliver Reed – English actor
- Oliver Miller – American professional basketball player