Declining since 2015, #1 for girls today.
Popularity of Olivia since 1880
Babies named Olivia per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 618 |
| 1890s | 1,099 |
| 1900s | 1,575 |
| 1910s | 3,545 |
| 1920s | 4,982 |
| 1930s | 3,922 |
| 1940s | 7,201 |
| 1950s | 6,100 |
| 1960s | 4,016 |
| 1970s | 7,846 |
| 1980s | 14,060 |
| 1990s | 75,913 |
| 2000s | 156,054 |
| 2010s | 184,561 |
| 2020s | 95,853 |
Meaning & origin
Shakespeare has given English several enduring girls' names, and Olivia is his biggest commercial success, the countess of Twelfth Night turned four centuries later into the most popular girls' name in the United States. Whether he coined it or dressed up the existing saint's name Oliva, the olive-branch etymology and the liquid three-syllable sound did the rest.
The modern numbers describe a reign in its mature phase. Olivia has ranked No. 1 since 2019 and held the title again in 2025, when about 1 in every 119 girls received it; but its share of births actually peaked back in 2014 and has drifted down since 2015. That is the classic shape of a dominant name past its growth years, still unavoidable at preschool pickup, no longer expanding.
Its state-level strongholds are New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Wyoming, though a No. 1 name is by definition strong nearly everywhere. Olivia now defines the mainstream against which other names get measured, and it pairs accordingly with the era's other standards: Emma, Ava, Liam, Noah.
Modern Olivia descends from the countess in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (first performed around 1602). Whether Shakespeare invented the name outright is uncertain: a medieval saint's name Oliva already existed, so he may have elaborated an existing form rather than coined one, but references agree the modern name's currency flows from his character. The most likely construction is a Latinate feminine of Oliver or a direct derivative of Latin oliva, "olive", the tree of peace. The name stayed in steady literary-flavored use for four centuries (Goldsmith gave an Olivia to The Vicar of Wakefield; Hollywood had Olivia de Havilland) before its late-twentieth-century explosion, which began around 1990 and carried it to the top of the American charts.
Read more: Olivia on Wikipedia
Where Olivia is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Olivia” around the world
Where Olivia lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
#23
in 2024
Ireland
#8
in 2025
New Zealand
#5
in 2025
Quebec
#2
in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#3
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Liv, Livvy, Ollie, Via
Famous people named Olivia
- Olivia de Havilland · two-time Academy Award-winning actress
- Olivia Newton-John · singer and star of Grease
- Olivia Colman · Academy Award-winning English actress
Sibling names for Olivia
Names that share Olivia's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Emma, Ava, Sophia, Isabella, Mia, Abigail, Madelyn, Abby, Alexa, Alexia, Anastasia, Angelique, Annabelle, Aubrey, Bella, Elliana, Emely, Emilee, Emilie, Gabriella, Isabelle, Jasmine, Jocelyn, Lexi, Liliana, Lilliana, Madeline, Abbey, Abigale, Abigayle, Adelyn, Alecia, Alexandrea, Alexie, Ally, Amalia, Anabel, Anabella, Anabelle, Angeline, Annabell, Aryanna, Charlize, Chloey, Corinna, Ellianna, Elsy, Emelia, Emmalee, Emmalyn, Evelin, Fiona, Georgina, Halie, Hanna, Isabell, Izabella, Jaqueline, Jessa, Julianna, Julissa, Leonora, Lilianna, Lillianna, Lilyana, Maddie, Melani, Miabella, Nataly, Nathaly, Nicola, Palma, Paulina, Sofie, Zoe, Aaryn, Abbigale, Abbigayle, Abbygail, Abygail, Adalie, Adalina, Alexius, Alexsandra, Alexzandria, Alisia, Alizabeth, Alli, Allisson, Aly, Amiah, Amilia, Ammy, Angelee, Angelie, Annabeth, Aribella, Arriana, Arrianna, Aubrielle, Avalyn, Avalynn, Camillia, Carlota, Chloie, Christinia, Eleana, Elisia, Elly, Ellyana, Elvina, Elyza, Emalee, Emarie, Emeli, Emiley, Emili, Emilly, Emmaleigh, Emmalynn, Emmarie, Evalina, Evalynn, Gabriell, Gracee, Hayli, Issabella, Izabel, Izabela, Izabell, Izabelle, Izzabella, Jennah, Julieth, Julietta, Karely, Kataleya, Klaire, Leeah, Lillyana, Lillyanna, Lilyanna, Lucia, Madelynne, Maryah, Maycie, Michaella, Micheala, Milania, Mirabella, Nataleigh, Natali, Noemy, Viki, Xenia, Abbagail, Abbygale, Abbygayle, Abi, Abigaile, Adalin, Ailynn, Aimie, Alahna, Alexanderia, Alexiah, Alexy, Aleyza, Alicea, Alissandra, Alissia, Allee, Alyss, Ameila, Ameliah, Amellia, Amely, Amelya, Ameria, Amillia, Amilya, Amylia, Analie, Angeleah, Anjela, Annagrace, Annali, Annalicia, Annalie, Annaly, Ariann, Ariannah, Arianni, Avagrace, Avalina, Avamarie, Avangeline, Aymee, Camilia, Charlotta, Dannah, Elivia, Eliyana, Ellagrace, Ellana, Ellanor, Elleanna, Ellieanna, Ellisa, Ellyanna, Ellyse, Elyssia, Elyzabeth, Emaleigh, Emalie, Emaly, Emalynn, Emelina, Emelly, Emilea, Emillie, Emmagrace, Emmah, Emmalea, Emmalin, Emmalina, Emmaly, Emmarae, Emmarose, Emmelia, Emmelyn, Emmily, Emylee, Evangelyn, Gabrianna, Geanna, Heily, Izzabelle, Jhoana, Kallee, Katerin, Lillyanne, Liseth, Lyvia, Madalin, Madalyne, Maddelyn, Maddy, Madilynne, Maryana, Maygen, Mikaella, Monalisa, Naiomi, Nataliah, Natalyn, Oliviana, Orelia, Sofi, Sofiya, Sophee, Sophi, Sophy, Sophya, Victorya, Yzabella, Abbegail, Abbiegail, Aby, Abygale, Adaliah, Adalyna, Adalyne, Addaline, Adyline, Aleksia, Alicha, Alivea, Allina, Allye, Allyna, Alyzabeth, Ameilia, Ameliyah, Amily, Amylee, Analeigha, Analya, Annalysa, Annasophia, Annelisa, Ariahna, Aryannah, Aryiana, Atheena, Avamae, Ayrabella, Bethanee, Elainah, Eleanna, Elissia, Eliyanna, Ellayna, Ellianah, Elysabeth, Emalia, Emelynn, Emilianna, Emillia, Emilya, Emilyanne, Emmalene, Emmalia, Emmalie, Emmalyne, Emmamarie, Emmely, Emmilyn, Enma, Evalynne, Evania, Evellyn, Evelyna, Gabbrielle, Isabellah, Issabelle, Iszabella, Jeorgia, Joanny, Juliah, Juliani, Juliett, Julina, Julyana, Kaity, Leahna, Levia, Lillieann, Lilyonna, Lincy, Madelein, Makaylie, Mariaha, Marianny, Mikhaela, Milanie, Miquela, Natalyah, Natalye, Natilie, Natlie, Nattalie, Sabrinna, Saraiah, Sharlotte, Sofiah, Sophiah, Sophiamarie, Sophina, Sophiya, Vicktoria, Zoella, Alexsandria, Aliviya, Allecia, Angalina, Arabela, Ellysa, Emalina, Emmajo, Eriyana, Jenevie, Lilleigh, Marabella, Abbagayle, Abbigal, Abbye, Aleighna, Alexandrya, Alexea, Alexias, Alexiya, Alexxia, Alezandra, Alicya, Alyze, Amaliah, Ameliya, Amiliah, Anastaisa, Annalaya, Annaliz, Annely, Anyelina, Avannah, Bellanie, Bianna, Chloeann, Christna, Danielys, Daniyla, Eimmy, Elaiza, Eliahna, Elianie, Elizabella, Elizabelle, Elley, Elliannah, Elliemay, Elliett, Ellionna, Elliyana, Ellizabeth, Emalea, Emila, Emiliah, Emilina, Emiliya, Emilygrace, Emmaclaire, Emmaleah, Emmalena, Emmali, Emmamae, Emmilee, Emmilia, Emylia, Eveleigh, Gabrella, Gabrille, Gracianna, Isbella, Isobella, Ivannah, Izabellah, Izzabell, Jaonna, Jasime, Jillianna, Juliahna, Jullia, Jullianna, Julyanna, Katherinne, Leliana, Liliahna, Lillianah, Lillieanna, Lissy, Livvie, Lydiana, Madalee, Madason, Maddeline, Mady, Makenize, Marialy, Marybella, Meria, Miabelle, Miaisabella, Milliani, Natelie, Secilia, Secily, Soffia, Sofhia, Sophiagrace, Sosie, Stellah, Tahtiana, Tallia, Tessah, Victoriah
Brothers: Liam, Noah, Ethan, Lucas, Mason, Anthony, Damian, Emmanuel, Jake, Julian, Marcus, Nicolas, Nikolas, Xavier, Zachary, Aleczander, Alexzander, Andru, Anson, Brayan, Caine, Cristopher, Emmitt, Gabe, Gabrial, Jacobi, Jessy, Leon, Maxim, Maximilian, Mitchel, Nathen, Nick, Nico, Quentin, Rob, Sabastian, Zack, Alexavier, Alexsander, Antoni, Benjamen, Davi, Domonic, Elyas, Ethen, Gavino, Geoff, Henery, Isacc, Jaymes, Jenson, Jonny, Lucious, Mattias, Nickolaus, Tobey, Tobie, Wiliam, Zach, Zaden, Zakery, Aedyn, Agustus, Alekzander, Alexandar, Andrez, Anthoni, Anthonio, Benjamyn, Caison, Cayleb, Chrystian, Elija, Elijiah, Ellias, Endy, Ethaniel, Eythan, Gaberial, Gaberiel, Izek, Jaccob, Jakeb, Jaymeson, Jayvien, Johnatan, Keean, Krystopher, Luccas, Mattew, Maximillion, Michaell, Naythan, Nichalos, Nicholes, Nicholi, Nicholis, Nicholos, Nicholus, Nickalus, Nickolus, Nicolaus, Rafeal, Sebastain, Trebor, Zacari, Zacharey, Aaran, Aidenn, Aiyden, Alecsander, Alexande, Alexxander, Alixander, Arris, Athony, Auggie, Banjamin, Caileb, Cebastian, Chistian, Davison, Ediel, Edwar, Everrett, Fabion, Izzac, Jacobb, Jacson, Jakaiden, Janssen, Jocob, Jordain, Joshuan, Jousha, Matheu, Mattheo, Maxamus, Maxmillian, Maxwel, Micholas, Naithan, Niccolas, Nichalas, Nicklos, Nicko, Nickoles, Nickoli, Nycholas, Nykolas, Olyver, Omere, Ralpheal, Sabastion, Stiven, Willliam, Zaccary, Zachrey, Zackry, Alecxander, Ethanjames, Issaac, Jacub, Jakeob, Maxamillian, Aaronjames, Aeric, Alekxander, Allex, Amiliano, Andrewjames, Anthonny, Calub, Charels, Dabid, Domnic, Ehtan, Elih, Geofrey, Givanni, Izacc, Jackob, Jacobey, Jaicob, Jaimes, Jerrit, Johnavon, Jozeph, Jsaon, Jusitn, Koleman, Lexander, Loui, Mattheu, Mikle, Nichlos, Nicholous, Nickalos, Nickalous, Nikholas, Nikolus, Nocholas, Olly, Sebasthian, Thoams, Tomothy, Topher, Ustin, Wilian, Xaidyn, Zacchary, Zacharee
Names like Olivia
Names whose popularity has moved with Olivia's over the last 50 years.
