✦ Boy’s name · US records 1880–2024
Oliver
Old French form with debated derivation
Oliver appeared in the US boy naming records from 1880 through 2024, reaching its highest point in 2024. It is a 3-syllable boy name ranked #149 by total recorded use. Common spelling relatives include Olliver.
Origin of the spelling
Origin & meaning
Oliver comes through the Old French Olivier. One proposed route connects it with Latin oliva, while other scholarship points to possible Germanic forms; the record preserves both explanations rather than presenting one as certain.
Medieval literary use helped circulate the name in Western Europe. It returned to wider English use in the 19th century and rose strongly again in the 21st century.
Related forms
Reviewed 2026-08-15 · Sources
Spelling ledger
Spelling variants of Oliver
Follow the thread