Oleva
An invented name of uncertain meaning and origin, potentially originating from Europe.
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Oleva. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Oleva today is around 96 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Oleva births was 1926 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Oleva. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Oleva is about 96 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Olevas were born before 1940.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Oleva. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1926
13 babies that year
Average age
96
years old
1938 SSA rank
#4,823
Tracked since 1898
Popularity
Oleva: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Oleva from the 1890s through to the 1930s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 77 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Oleva remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Oleva by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Oleva during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Oleva
The name Oleva is believed to have its origins in the Baltic region, specifically in Lithuania. It is derived from the Lithuanian word "ola," which means "cave" or "den." This suggests that the name may have been given to children born in or near caves, or it could have been a reference to a family or clan that lived in caves or had some association with them.
The earliest recorded use of the name Oleva dates back to the 15th century, when it appeared in Lithuanian historical records. During this time, Lithuania was an independent Grand Duchy and a major power in Eastern Europe, with a rich cultural heritage and a strong sense of national identity.
While Oleva is not a common name in religious texts or ancient scriptures, it has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Oleva Mikalojute (1520-1587), a Lithuanian noblewoman and landowner who played a significant role in the political affairs of her time.
Another notable figure was Oleva Gedvydaite (1675-1742), a Lithuanian writer and poet who was celebrated for her contributions to the country's literary tradition. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience, and she is considered one of the pioneers of Lithuanian literature.
In the 19th century, Oleva Brazauskaite (1835-1901) was a prominent Lithuanian educator and activist who fought for the rights of women and worked to establish schools and educational opportunities for girls in her country.
Moving into the 20th century, Oleva Kirvelyte (1905-1983) was a Lithuanian artist and painter who gained recognition for her vibrant and expressive works, which often depicted the landscapes and people of her homeland.
More recently, Oleva Simonaviciute (1962-present) is a contemporary Lithuanian writer and journalist who has published several acclaimed novels and short story collections, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of modern life.
While the name Oleva may not be as widely known as some other Lithuanian names, it has a rich history and has been borne by many notable individuals who have made significant contributions to their respective fields and to the cultural heritage of Lithuania.
People
Oleva + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Oleva as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Oleva: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Oleva?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Oleva going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Oleva a common name?
We classify Oleva as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 210 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Oleva most popular?
The single biggest year for Oleva was 1926, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Oleva is about 96 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Oleva in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Oleva a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Oleva in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Oleva still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Oleva in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Oleva can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Oleva?
See how many Americans are named Oleva on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.