Olive
Olive is a girl's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Olive tree; symbol of peace.
Origin and history
Olive is a given name derived from the English word for the olive tree and its fruit, originating from the Latin word 'oliva'. It was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and has experienced a notable resurgence in contemporary U.S. usage. The name carries classical botanical associations and symbolic ties to peace.
Popularity in the United States
66,926 babies in the United States have been named Olive since 1880. It ranks #491 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #178.
States where it is most popular
- PA (8.2 %)
- CA (7.9 %)
- NY (6.4 %)
- OH (5.1 %)
- TX (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 3,456 |
| 1890-1900 | 5,713 |
| 1900-1910 | 6,027 |
| 1910-1920 | 12,355 |
| 1920-1930 | 10,889 |
| 1930-1940 | 3,542 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,444 |
| 1950-1960 | 617 |
| 1960-1970 | 257 |
| 1970-1980 | 122 |
| 1980-1990 | 94 |
| 1990-2000 | 141 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,562 |
| 2010-2019 | 10,707 |
| 2020-2029 | 10,000 |
Famous people named Olive
- Olive Thomas: Actress, Model
- Olive Schreiner: Author, Activist
Nicknames
Liv, Ollie, Livvy
Fun facts
- Extending an olive branch has been a universal symbol of peace since ancient Greco-Roman times.
- Olive was a top 100 U.S. name in the late 1800s before declining and eventually making a modern comeback.