Olivia first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Olivia has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Olivia

Feminine name of Latin origin meaning "olive tree".

Popularity of Olivia by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Olivia is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Olivia being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 15,270 female babies and 6 male babies born with the name Olivia.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby boys were named Olivia in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 6 15,270
2022 16 16,573
2021 9 17,798
2020 13 17,664
2019 12 18,549
2018 9 18,039
2017 12 18,763
2016 16 19,397
2015 9 19,717
2014 23 19,829
2013 24 18,446
2012 18 17,328
2011 17 17,331
2010 28 17,033
2009 18 17,441
2008 31 17,086
2007 17 16,587
2006 17 15,505
2005 23 15,699
2004 73 16,107
2003 22 16,152
2002 17 14,630
2001 11 13,977
2000 6 12,854
1999 18 11,256
1998 16 10,610
1997 12 9,477
1996 12 8,124
1995 12 7,625
1994 10 6,434
1993 7 6,342
1992 14 5,810
1991 9 5,601
1990 15 4,627
1989 30 2,439
1988 9 2,141
1987 11 1,699
1986 7 1,233
1985 0 1,025
1984 7 1,166
1983 0 1,090
1982 0 1,126
1981 7 1,027
1980 5 1,118
1979 6 1,255
1978 5 1,312
1977 7 1,105
1976 6 1,233
1975 9 1,049
1974 5 507

The history of the first name Olivia

The name Olivia has its origins in the Latin language, derived from the word "oliva," meaning "olive." This connection to the olive tree can be traced back to ancient Roman times, where the olive branch was a symbol of peace and fertility.

The name's popularity spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in countries with strong ties to Latin culture, such as Italy, Spain, and France. It was often associated with the olive tree's symbolism of peace, as well as its connection to the Virgin Mary, who was sometimes referred to as the "Olive of Paradise."

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Olivia can be found in William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night," written around 1601. In the play, Olivia is a wealthy and beautiful countess who becomes the object of affection for several characters. This literary reference helped popularize the name in English-speaking countries.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Olivia. One of the most famous was Olivia de Havilland (1916-2016), the British-American actress who won two Academy Awards for her roles in "To Each His Own" (1946) and "The Heiress" (1949). Another notable Olivia was Olivia Clemens (1845-1890), the wife of famous American author Mark Twain.

In the field of literature, Olivia Shakespear (1863-1938) was a renowned English novelist and essayist, while Olivia Rossetti Agresti (1875-1960) was an Italian writer and activist who campaigned for women's rights. The world of classical music also had its Olivia in the form of Olivia Dussek (1798-1847), a British pianist and composer.

Regardless of its origins, the name Olivia has maintained its popularity across generations, often associated with notions of peace, beauty, and grace. Its enduring charm and classical roots have made it a beloved choice for parents around the world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Olivia was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Olivia, please contact us.

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We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Olivia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/olivia-meaning-and-history/.

"Olivia first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/olivia-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Olivia first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/olivia-meaning-and-history/.

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