The story behind Olivia
From Latin Olīva, an early saints’ name from olīva (“olive; olive branch”). First popularized by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Finnish entry
From English Olivia. Can be considered a feminine form of Oliver.
Indonesian entry
Borrowed from English Olivia.
Pronunciation
US: /oʊˈlɪvi.ə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- UK: /əʊˈlɪvi.ə/
- US: /əˈlɪ.vi.ə/
- Finnish: /ˈoliʋiɑ/
- Finnish: [ˈo̞liˌʋiɑ̝]
- Indonesian: /ˈolivi(j)a/
Popularity
Olivia ranked #1 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Nicknames
Variants and Related Forms
Names Similar to Olivia
Octavia
From Latin Octāvia, feminine form of the gens name Octāvius, from octavus (“the eighth”). From Latin Octāvia. Usually given to children born in October (hence its root octō…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Octàvia
Borrowed from Latin Octāvia, feminine form of the gens name Octāvius.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ottavia
Inherited from Latin Octāvia.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Agrypina
Learned borrowing from Latin Agrippīna.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Amelia
A variant of Amalia, derived from Germanic compound names beginning with *amal (“vigor, bravery”). For the first element, compare *ammōną (“to bother, irritate”). The name and…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Angelica
Church Italian Angelica, from Latin angelica or a Latinate elaboration of Angela. Name of a heroine in Ariosto's Orlando Furioso (1516). From Latin angelica (“angelic”).…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Olivia
Balbina
Learned borrowing from Latin Balbina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbino
Borrowed from Latin Balbīnus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balduino
Borrowed from Latin Balduinus, from Frankish *Baldawin, from Proto-Germanic *Balþawiniz (literally “bold friend”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Olivia
Aaron
From Latin Aaron, from Ancient Greek Ἀαρών (Aarṓn), from Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾAhărōn), of unknown meaning, possibly meaning “bearer of martyrs”, or perhaps also, or instead,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abby
Borrowed from English Abby in the 20th century. Borrowed from English Abby.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length