Declining since 2002, #8,243 for boys today.
Popularity of Oleg since 1959
Babies named Oleg per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 8 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 76 |
| 2000s | 165 |
| 2010s | 151 |
| 2020s | 56 |
Meaning & origin
Oleg is a name of Slavic origin rooted in Old Norse, meaning 'holy' or 'blessed'. It has been in use in the United States since at least 1959, with its peak popularity occurring in 2019. However, its trajectory has been falling since 2002, and in 2025 it ranked 8,243 with an incidence of 1 in 189,786 births. The name carries historical weight through figures like Prince Oleg of Novgorod, and its strong, straightforward sound keeps it in use among families with Eastern European heritage.
Oleg is derived from the Old Norse name Helgi, meaning 'holy' or 'blessed'. It was adopted into Old East Slavic as Ольгъ (Ol'gŭ), evolving into the modern Russian and Ukrainian form Oleg. The name is historically associated with the Varangian prince Oleg of Novgorod (9th century), a ruler of the Rus' who expanded their territory and is considered a founder of the Kievan Rus' state.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Olezha, Olegushka, Olya
Sibling names for Oleg
Names that share Oleg's style, for a brother or sister.
