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

Popularity of Olivier by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Olivier is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Olivier being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 57 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Olivier.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby girls were named Olivier in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Olivier

The name Olivier has its origins in the Latin "Olivarius" or "Olivaris," which means "olive tree" or "related to olives." It is a French form of the Latin name Oliver. The name gained popularity during the Middle Ages in France and other parts of Western Europe.

In the 12th century, the name Olivier was associated with the legendary figure of Oliver, one of the Twelve Peers of Charlemagne and a close companion of the French hero Roland. Oliver's exploits were immortalized in the epic poem "The Song of Roland," which helped spread the name's fame across Europe.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Olivier was Olivier de Termes, a 12th-century French nobleman and crusader. He participated in the Third Crusade and played a significant role in the siege of Acre in 1191.

During the Renaissance period, the name Olivier gained further prominence. Olivier de la Marche (1426-1501) was a Burgundian chronicler and court historian who wrote extensively about the Dukes of Burgundy. Another notable figure was Olivier de Clisson (1336-1407), a French military leader and Constable of France during the Hundred Years' War.

In the 16th century, Olivier de Serres (1539-1619) was a French writer and agronomist, often referred to as the "father of French agriculture." His influential work, "Théâtre d'Agriculture et Mesnage des Champs" (The Theater of Agriculture and Manual of Fields), played a significant role in advancing agricultural practices in France.

The name Olivier also had a literary presence. Olivier Basselin (c. 1400-1450) was a French poet credited with popularizing the vaux-de-vire, a style of satirical poetry. Olivier Twist, the main character in Charles Dickens' famous novel "Oliver Twist" (1838), contributed to the recognition of the name in the English-speaking world.

In the 20th century, Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) was a renowned French composer, organist, and ornithologist, known for incorporating bird songs into his compositions. Olivier Gendebien (1924-1998) was a Belgian racing driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, in 1958 and 1960.

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 Olivier was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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