Olivia
oh-LIV-ee-uh /əˈlɪv.i.ə/
Meaning of Olivia
Olivia is the feminine of the Latin masculine Oliverius (from oliva, the olive tree). The olive is a long-standing symbol of peace and reconciliation across Mediterranean cultures, which gives the name a gentle, optimistic association even today.
How to pronounce Olivia
Stress on the second syllable. The British and American pronunciations are effectively identical.
Current popularity of Olivia
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #1 |
| United Kingdom (ONS) | 2024 | #1 |
Cultural notes
Has held the #1 spot on the US SSA list every year since 2019 and the UK ONS list every year since 2016 — currently the most popular girls' name in both jurisdictions.
Notable bearers of Olivia
Olivia in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (1602) is the first widely-read literary appearance of the name in English. Olivia Newton-John (singer), Olivia Colman (actor) and Olivia Wilde (director) carry it today.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Olivia — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
- https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/datasets/babynamesenglandandwalesbabynamesstatisticsgirls
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31