How to say it
o · LIV · i · a
əˈlɪv.i.ə
Feminine
Olivia
Olive tree
What it means
From the Latin oliva, the olive tree. A symbol of peace, wisdom, and slow-built abundance.
Olivia got its modern English boost from Shakespeare, who used it for the countess in Twelfth Night around 1602. The Latin root oliva runs through Roman ritual into Christian iconography, where olive branches stood for peace (often after grief) and lasting fruitfulness. The name came back into fashion in the 1990s and has held the US top five since the mid-2010s.
How to spell Olivia
The standard spelling is Olivia. Common variants include Alivia, Olyvia, Olive, Liv, but Olivia is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #1 in 2019, currently #1 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Nickname
Liv and Livvy are both current. Olive shows up occasionally as a vintage short.
- Pop culture
Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is the historical anchor; Scandal's Olivia Pope is the modern one. Both flatter the name.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Olivia (Twelfth Night) Countess in Shakespeare's comedy, ~1601
- Olivia Newton-John Singer and Grease's Sandy, 1948-2022
- Olivia Colman British actress, The Crown and The Favourite
- Olivia Rodrigo Singer-songwriter, drivers license and Sour
Spelling variants
- Alivia
- Olyvia
- Olive
- Liv
Names with the same feeling
See Olivia from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Olivia mean?
- From the Latin oliva, the olive tree. A symbol of peace, wisdom, and slow-built abundance.
- What does Olivia mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Olivia means "Olive tree." Olivia got its modern English boost from Shakespeare, who used it for the countess in Twelfth Night around 1602. The Latin root oliva runs through Roman ritual into Christian iconography, where olive branches stood for peace (often after grief) and lasting fruitfulness. The name came back into fashion in the 1990s and has held the US top five since the mid-2010s.
- How do you pronounce Olivia?
- Olivia is pronounced əˈlɪv.i.ə. Say it as o-LIV-i-a, with the stress on the "liv" syllable.
- How do you spell Olivia?
- The standard spelling is Olivia. Common spelling variants include Alivia, Olyvia, Olive, Liv.
- Is Olivia a boy or girl name?
- Olivia is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Olivia?
- Olivia ranked #1 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.