Oliver
Gender: Boy
Meaning: Olive tree — a symbol of peace and fruitfulness
Origin: Latin Olivarius, or possibly Old Norse Áleifr (ancestor's relic)
Popularity: Ranked #3 in 2025 with 14,939 babies born.
History: Oliver has deep medieval roots in England and France, carried by saints and literary characters alike. Charles Dickens cemented its literary charm with Oliver Twist in 1838. After fading in the mid-20th century, Oliver staged one of the great baby-name comebacks, rocketing to #1 in Australia, the UK, and Canada before cracking the U.S. top 3 in the 2020s. It perfectly captures the vintage-yet-fresh trend parents love today.
Famous people named Oliver: Oliver Stone (director), Oliver Queen (DC Comics), Oliver Twist (Dickens character), Oliver Hudson (actor)
Name length: 6 letters
How common is Oliver? About 1 in 222 babies born in 2025 were named Oliver, or roughly 41 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Oliver
What does the name Oliver mean?
Oliver means “Olive tree — a symbol of peace and fruitfulness” from Latin Olivarius, or possibly Old Norse Áleifr (ancestor's relic) roots.
What is the origin of the name Oliver?
Oliver has Latin Olivarius, or possibly Old Norse Áleifr (ancestor's relic) origin. The traditional meaning is “Olive tree — a symbol of peace and fruitfulness”.
How popular is Oliver?
Oliver ranked #3 in 2025 — given to 14,939 babies that year.
When was Oliver most popular?
Oliver peaked in 2024 with 15,343 babies registered that year.
Is Oliver a boy or girl name?
Oliver is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Olivers in registered births are male.
Is the name Oliver rising or falling in popularity?
Oliver has risen 5358 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #5361 in 2020 to #3 in 2025.
How long has Oliver been recorded?
Oliver appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.