gender neutral
Oliver
olive tree, peace
About Oliver
Consistently beloved across generations, this name endures because it simply works. The three syllables create a complete sound that needs no nickname, though affectionate shortenings naturally emerge. Its widespread recognition means your child will never spell it repeatedly, yet it remains special rather than generic. The name crosses cultural boundaries effortlessly, functioning well in diverse communities and professional environments. Parents appreciate its literary connections and historical depth, while children enjoy its friendly, approachable sound. It ages beautifully—equally appropriate for a toddler, teenager, and corporate executive. The name's popularity reflects genuine merit rather than fleeting fashion, as families consistently choose it for its inherent qualities. It offers familiarity without boredom, tradition without stuffiness. This represents a safe choice in the best sense—reliable, respected, and genuinely pleasing to most ears.
Popularity of the Name Oliver
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #69 | ||||
| 1881 | #67 | ||||
| 1882 | #72 | ||||
| 1883 | #72 | ||||
| 1884 | #74 | ||||
| 1885 | #72 | ||||
| 1886 | #75 | ||||
| 1887 | #80 | ||||
| 1888 | #88 | ||||
| 1889 | #84 | ||||
| 1890 | #81 | ||||
| 1891 | #77 | ||||
| 1892 | #84 | ||||
| 1893 | #86 | ||||
| 1894 | #88 | ||||
| 1895 | #88 | ||||
| 1896 | #99 | ||||
| 1897 | #102 | ||||
| 1898 | #102 | ||||
| 1899 | #109 | ||||
| 1900 | #95 | #101 | |||
| 1901 | #92 | ||||
| 1902 | #107 | #99 | |||
| 1903 | #93 | #101 | |||
| 1904 | #108 | #115 | |||
| 1905 | #102 | ||||
| 1906 | #118 | #123 | |||
| 1907 | #117 | #104 | |||
| 1908 | #122 | #132 | |||
| 1909 | #112 | #111 | |||
| 1910 | #103 | #128 | |||
| 1911 | #115 | ||||
| 1912 | #117 | ||||
| 1913 | #124 | #132 | |||
| 1914 | #122 | ||||
| 1915 | #119 | #119 | |||
| 1916 | #127 | #134 | |||
| 1917 | #127 | #137 | |||
| 1918 | #130 | #129 | |||
| 1919 | #128 | ||||
| 1920 | #135 | #143 | |||
| 1921 | #135 | ||||
| 1922 | #134 | ||||
| 1923 | #136 | #133 | |||
| 1924 | #140 | #154 | |||
| 1925 | #151 | ||||
| 1926 | #150 | ||||
| 1927 | #157 | #145 | |||
| 1928 | #161 | ||||
| 1929 | #163 | ||||
| 1930 | #170 | ||||
| 1931 | #175 | #153 | |||
| 1932 | #182 | ||||
| 1933 | #199 | ||||
| 1934 | #181 | ||||
| 1935 | #197 | ||||
| 1936 | #205 | ||||
| 1937 | #200 | ||||
| 1938 | #216 | ||||
| 1939 | #203 | ||||
| 1940 | #215 | ||||
| 1941 | #219 | ||||
| 1942 | #228 | ||||
| 1943 | #217 | ||||
| 1944 | #239 | ||||
| 1945 | #239 | ||||
| 1946 | #251 | ||||
| 1947 | #271 | ||||
| 1948 | #258 | ||||
| 1949 | #272 | ||||
| 1950 | #284 | ||||
| 1951 | #293 | ||||
| 1952 | #302 | ||||
| 1953 | #313 | ||||
| 1954 | #309 | ||||
| 1955 | #327 | ||||
| 1956 | #341 | ||||
| 1957 | #358 | ||||
| 1958 | #363 | ||||
| 1959 | #414 | ||||
| 1960 | #413 | ||||
| 1961 | #425 | ||||
| 1962 | #450 | ||||
| 1963 | #427 | ||||
| 1964 | #422 | #68 | |||
| 1965 | #445 | #69 | |||
| 1966 | #412 | #79 | |||
| 1967 | #444 | #74 | |||
| 1968 | #428 | #82 | |||
| 1969 | #437 | #81 | |||
| 1970 | #428 | #92 | |||
| 1971 | #396 | #252 | #99 | ||
| 1972 | #412 | #278 | #96 | ||
| 1973 | #403 | #224 | #102 | ||
| 1974 | #421 | #195 | #92 | ||
| 1975 | #408 | #167 | #14 | ||
| 1976 | #424 | #134 | #39 | ||
| 1977 | #432 | #153 | #74 | ||
| 1978 | #375 | #167 | #81 | ||
| 1979 | #396 | #156 | #96 | ||
| 1980 | #414 | #129 | #94 | ||
| 1981 | #410 | #121 | #100 | ||
| 1982 | #380 | #118 | #108 | ||
| 1983 | #384 | #95 | #108 | ||
| 1984 | #416 | #135 | #101 | ||
| 1985 | #442 | #74 | #119 | ||
| 1986 | #472 | #78 | #107 | ||
| 1987 | #405 | #90 | #105 | ||
| 1988 | #428 | #85 | #140 | ||
| 1989 | #439 | #94 | #138 | ||
| 1990 | #373 | #71 | #125 | ||
| 1991 | #390 | #74 | #164 | #263 | |
| 1992 | #356 | #70 | #183 | #262 | |
| 1993 | #355 | #59 | #131 | #287 | |
| 1994 | #370 | #54 | #147 | #299 | |
| 1995 | #393 | #49 | #134 | #255 | |
| 1996 | #386 | #50 | #147 | #316 | |
| 1997 | #367 | #24 | #45 | #155 | #265 |
| 1998 | #356 | #22 | #39 | #210 | #249 |
| 1999 | #340 | #22 | #34 | #165 | #231 |
| 2000 | #305 | #16 | #26 | #176 | #200 |
| 2001 | #299 | #14 | #28 | #138 | #194 |
| 2002 | #268 | #12 | #16 | #155 | #186 |
| 2003 | #245 | #8 | #14 | #142 | #180 |
| 2004 | #228 | #7 | #16 | #121 | #152 |
| 2005 | #209 | #6 | #14 | #115 | #125 |
| 2006 | #173 | #5 | #12 | #101 | #105 |
| 2007 | #140 | #3 | #6 | #77 | #88 |
| 2008 | #118 | #2 | #8 | #84 | #72 |
| 2009 | #98 | #2 | #2 | #62 | #55 |
| 2010 | #88 | #1 | #3 | #52 | #49 |
| 2011 | #78 | #3 | #3 | #54 | #40 |
| 2012 | #73 | #2 | #2 | #59 | #39 |
| 2013 | #52 | #1 | #1 | #41 | #27 |
| 2014 | #32 | #1 | #1 | #40 | #18 |
| 2015 | #19 | #1 | #1 | #31 | #15 |
| 2016 | #12 | #1 | #1 | #30 | #13 |
| 2017 | #10 | #1 | #1 | #30 | #14 |
| 2018 | #5 | #1 | #1 | #25 | #13 |
| 2019 | #3 | #1 | #1 | #24 | #12 |
| 2020 | #3 | #1 | #1 | #25 | #6 |
| 2021 | #3 | #2 | #1 | #25 | #9 |
| 2022 | #3 | #3 | #1 | #26 | #6 |
| 2023 | #3 | #3 | #2 | #22 | #6 |
| 2024 | #3 | #3 | #2 | #28 | #6 |
| 2025 | #3 | #5 | #3 | #19 | #6 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Oliver
Names Similar to Oliver
Nicknames for Oliver
- Ollie
- Oli
- Liv
- Ver
Famous People Named Oliver
| Oliver Cromwell | English military and political leader |
| Oliver Reed | English actor |
| Oliver Stone | American filmmaker |
| Oliver Kahn | German footballer |
| Oliver Hardy | American comedian |
| Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. | American jurist |
| Oliver Hudson | American actor |
| Oliver Platt | Canadian actor |
Characters Named Oliver
| Oliver Twist | from Charles Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist" |
| Oliver Queen | from DC Comics' "Green Arrow" |
| Oliver Wood | from J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series |
| Oliver Trask | from "The O.C." TV series |
| Oliver Jonas Queen | from TV series "Arrow" |
| Oliver Barnes | from the movie "American Psycho" |
| Oliver Barrett IV | from the movie "Love Story" |
| Oliver Warbucks | from the musical "Annie" |
| Oliver Thornfield | from Charlotte Brontë's novel "Jane Eyre" |
| Oliver Banks | from the TV series "The Haunting of Bly Manor" |
| Oliver Hardy | from the comedy duo "Laurel and Hardy" |
| Oliver Oken | from the TV series "Hannah Montana" |
| Oliver Martext | from Shakespeare's play "As You Like It" |
| Oliver Hutto | from the movie "The Great Santini" |
| Oliver Tate | from the movie "Submarine" |
| Oliver Stone | from the movie "Wall Street" |
| Oliver Fitzwilliam Darcy | from the novel "Bridget Jones's Diary" |
| Oliver Hampton | from the TV series "How to Get Away with Murder" |