Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Olga
GirlRussian, Old Norse· “holy, blessed”
- Meaning
- holy, blessed
- Origin
- Russian, Old Norse
- Pronunciation
- OHL-guh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3,201
- US babies 2025
- 50
- Best rank
- #126 (1916)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Olga
Olga is a Russian and Old Norse name that means “holy, blessed”.
Olga is the Russian form of the Old Norse Helga, "holy" or "blessed," brought to Eastern Europe by Scandinavian settlers in early Rus. Saint Olga of Kiev, who ruled as regent in the tenth century, was among the first rulers of Kievan Rus to accept Christianity, and her grandson Vladimir later made it the state religion. The name became standard in Russia, Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic countries. It is said OHL-guh. Olya is the usual Russian pet form, and the name has a solid, old-world character.
Popularity over time
Olga has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 116 different years. Its best national rank was #126 in 1916, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 1,691 were named Olga. In 2025, 50 babies were named Olga, and it ranked #3,201 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #146 in 1920, #333 in 1950, #573 in 1980, #1,239 in 2000, #2,892 in 2010, and #3,201 in 2025. Of the 61,872 US girls named Olga since records began, 21% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1910s come next, with 11,733 babies. Since 2010, 927 more have been named Olga.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Lola, Winifred, Mamie, Lucile, and Verna.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Olga ranked highest in Virginia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | #1326 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Olga is usually pronounced OHL-guh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with O and ends in “-ga”.
Middle names for Olga
A few middle names that flow with Olga: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Olga
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Lists that include Olga
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Olga mean?
Olga is a Russian and Old Norse name that means “holy, blessed”.
What is the origin of the name Olga?
Olga has Russian and Old Norse roots. Olga is the Russian form of the Old Norse Helga, "holy" or "blessed," brought to Eastern Europe by Scandinavian settlers in early Rus.
Is Olga a popular name?
Not especially. Olga ranked #3,201 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Olga a boy or girl name?
Olga is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Olga?
Olga is usually pronounced OHL-guh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings