Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Olivia
GirlLatin, English· “olive”
- Meaning
- olive
- Origin
- Latin, English
- Pronunciation
- oh-LIH-vee-uh
- Syllables
- 4
- US rank 2025
- #1
- US babies 2025
- 13,544
- Best rank
- #1 (2019)
- Peak year
- 2014
Meaning and origin of Olivia
Olivia is a Latin and English name that means “olive”.
Olivia comes from the Latin oliva, "olive", the tree long linked with peace and plenty in the Mediterranean world. The name owes much of its fame to William Shakespeare, who gave it to the wealthy countess in Twelfth Night, a comedy of disguise and mistaken identity, and he is often credited with popularizing this spelling. After that it spread steadily through English-speaking countries, and in modern times it rose to the very top of the naming charts. Olivia feels graceful and friendly at once, with a flowing four-syllable rhythm that works in many languages. Liv, Livvy and Ollie are popular nicknames, and Olive offers a vintage alternative with the same root.
Popularity over time
Olivia 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 146 different years. Its best national rank was #1 in 2019, and the most babies received it in 2014, when 19,840 were named Olivia. In 2025, 13,544 babies were named Olivia, and it ranked #1 nationally. That is 31% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #287 in 1920, #275 in 1950, #229 in 1980, #16 in 2000, #4 in 2010, and #1 in 2025. Of the 567,345 US girls named Olivia since records began, 33% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 156,054 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Mia and Sofia.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Olivia ranked highest in California, Florida, and Illinois.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #1 | 1,796 |
| Florida | #1 | 1,020 |
| Illinois | #1 | 501 |
| Arizona | #1 | 353 |
| Washington | #1 | 327 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Olivia is usually pronounced oh-LIH-vee-uh, with four syllables. It has six letters, starts with O and ends in “-ia”.
Middle names for Olivia
A few middle names that flow with Olivia: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Olivia
Similar names
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ih-MEE-lee-uh
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ahk-TAY-vee-uh
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an-TOH-nee-uh
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kawr-DEEL-yuh
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uh-MEEL-yuh
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an-JEH-lih-kuh
“angelic” · Latin
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Evelina Girl
eh-vuh-LEE-nuh
English
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Emily Girl
EH-muh-lee
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Lily Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
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Valeria Girl
vuh-LEHR-ee-uh
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Juniper Girl
JOO-nih-pur
“juniper shrub” · English
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Lists that include Olivia
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Olivia mean?
Olivia is a Latin and English name that means “olive”.
What is the origin of the name Olivia?
Olivia has Latin and English roots. Olivia comes from the Latin oliva, "olive", the tree long linked with peace and plenty in the Mediterranean world.
Is Olivia a popular name?
Yes. Olivia ranked #1 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Olivia a boy or girl name?
Olivia is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Olivia?
Olivia is usually pronounced oh-LIH-vee-uh. 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