Rising since 2001, #2,167 for boys today.
Popularity of Olsen since 1989
Babies named Olsen per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 37 |
| 2010s | 177 |
| 2020s | 272 |
Meaning & origin
Olsen entered the U.S. male naming pool in 1989, a late arrival that reflects the modern rise of surname-inspired first names. Its peak came in 2025, when it reached rank 2,167 with about 1 in 25,880 boys receiving the name. The name has been on an upward trajectory since 2001, though it remains relatively rare. Its highest popularity is concentrated in North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas. As a Scandinavian patronymic, Olsen carries the meaning 'son of Ole,' connecting it to the early medieval Norse name Olaf. The name's adoption in America echoes the broader trend of using family surnames as given names, a pattern that gained momentum in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Olsen is a patronymic surname of Norwegian and Danish origin, meaning 'son of Ole' or 'son of Olaf'. Ole itself is a Danish and Norwegian form of Olaf, which derives from Old Norse Áleifr, meaning 'ancestor's descendant' or 'heirloom'. It has been used as a given name in the United States since the late 20th century, likely influenced by surnames-as-first-names trends and cultural figures like the Olsen twins.
Where Olsen is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Olson
Sibling names for Olsen
Names that share Olsen's style, for a brother or sister.
