Oliver
Say it: OL-iv-er
Boy6 letters3 syllables
#18
in Ireland (2025)
#19 with spellings combined
208
babies in 2025
#14
best rank (1975)
6,422
babies since 1964
Up 12
10-year rank change
Oliver through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 208 | #19 |
| 2024 | 181 | #28 |
| 2023 | 211 | #22 |
| 2022 | 201 | #26 |
| 2021 | 208 | #25 |
| 2020 | 195 | #25 |
| 2019 | 249 | #24 |
| 2018 | 253 | #25 |
| 2017 | 249 | #30 |
| 2016 | 244 | #30 |
| 2015 | 259 | #31 |
| 2014 | 199 | #40 |
| 2013 | 199 | #41 |
| 2012 | 155 | #59 |
| 2011 | 167 | #54 |
| 2010 | 172 | #52 |
| 2009 | 141 | #62 |
| 2008 | 98 | #83 |
| 2007 | 99 | #76 |
| 2006 | 61 | #101 |
| 2005 | 49 | #113 |
| 2004 | 44 | #121 |
| 2003 | 30 | #138 |
| 2002 | 25 | #152 |
| 2001 | 28 | #138 |
| 2000 | 16 | #174 |
| 1999 | 19 | #161 |
| 1998 | 10 | #203 |
| 1997 | 22 | #155 |
| 1996 | 27 | #145 |
| 1995 | 31 | #134 |
| 1994 | 23 | #145 |
| 1993 | 30 | #130 |
| 1992 | 15 | #180 |
| 1991 | 18 | #162 |
| 1990 | 35 | #123 |
| 1989 | 27 | #136 |
| 1988 | 25 | #137 |
| 1987 | 48 | #103 |
| 1986 | 47 | #107 |
| 1985 | 38 | #118 |
| 1984 | 54 | #99 |
| 1983 | 49 | #108 |
| 1982 | 50 | #107 |
| 1981 | 61 | #99 |
| 1980 | 70 | #94 |
| 1979 | 68 | #96 |
| 1978 | 84 | #81 |
| 1977 | 102 | #74 |
| 1976 | 255 | #39 |
| 1975 | 537 | #14 |
| 1974 | 78 | #92 |
| 1973 | 57 | #99 |
| 1972 | 64 | #96 |
| 1971 | 61 | #99 |
| 1970 | 65 | #92 |
| 1969 | 74 | #80 |
| 1968 | 62 | #82 |
| 1967 | 73 | #73 |
| 1966 | 65 | #79 |
| 1965 | 68 | #69 |
| 1964 | 69 | #68 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Oliver mean?
Uncertain, often linked to the olive tree
Norman French Olivier, linked with Latin words for the olive, though perhaps Germanic at root.
Say it right
OLiver
The story of Oliver
Oliver came to England with the Normans, from the Old French Olivier. It has long been linked with the Latin word for an olive tree, but that may be a later reinterpretation, and several Germanic origins have also been suggested, so the meaning is uncertain. In the medieval Song of Roland, Oliver is the loyal friend of the hero Roland, one of Charlemagne’s knights.
In Ireland the name is tied to Saint Oliver Plunkett, the Archbishop of Armagh executed in 1681 and canonised in 1975. That same year stands out in the records: in 1975 Oliver reached number 14, its best rank, with 537 boys. The writer Oliver Goldsmith is another Irish bearer.
Oliver was then given less often for many years, falling below 200th place in 1998. It has come back strongly since the mid-2000s. In 2025 it was number 18 in the CSO’s table, and in Northern Ireland its best rank was 3rd, in 2016.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Oliver (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Oliver (given name)
- Wikipedia: Oliver Plunkett
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland, full name list 1997-2025
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Ollie
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Oliver | 208 | 6,422 |
In Northern Ireland
#12 in 2025 with 91 babies. Best rank #3 (2016); 2,995 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.