Olive
How to say it: AH-liv · /ˈɑlɪv/
From Latin 'oliva', the olive tree; symbolizing peace and fruitfulness. Used in English since the medieval period.
Olive was the 223rd most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 1,597 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are up about 32% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #185 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #223 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 1,597 |
| Share of births | 1 in 2,075 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | +32% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #185 |
| In France, 2025 | #999 among girls’ names, 25 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Nearly gone by the 1980s, Olive returned after an early high in the 1880s. It remains well below that peak but should rise.
What goes with it
Leafy and calm with soft breathy sounds and a nature spirit. Hazel and Ivy share the style.
Middle names that flow with Olive →
Nicknames
- Ollie
- Liv
Honouring a Olive in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Olive is about 1 in 87.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #999 for girls in 2025.
England and Wales: #47. Ireland: #260.
Famous people named Olive
- Olive Schreiner (1855–1920)South African author and pacifist
- Olive Thomas (1894–1920)American silent film actress, model
- Olive Loughnane (born 1976)Irish race walking athlete
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Olive Oyl, Popeye's girlfriend; one of the most recognizable female cartoon characters.
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