Oliver is one of the most popular baby names in the UK, ranked #3 in 2024. With 3,492 babies given this name, your child will likely be the only Oliver in their class — but in a school of 600, expect around ~1.8 others.
Origin & Meaning
Latin/Old French — Olive tree; symbol of peace and fruitfulness
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UK Rank 2024
#3
US Rank #3
About the Name Oliver
Oliver is holding steady in the rankings at #3. It reached its peak of #1 in 2009 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 29 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
In terms of origin, Oliver is rooted in Latin/Old French, where it means "Olive tree; symbol of peace and fruitfulness". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Oliver is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
It ranks similarly in the US at #3, suggesting broad transatlantic appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Oliver
Probably not in their specific class, but possible. With around 3,492 UK babies named Oliver per year, your child will likely be the only Oliver in his class. In a school of 600, however, expect to find around ~1.8 others.
Oliver has held a stable position around #3 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #1 in 2009 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Oliver has Latin/Old French origins and means "Olive tree; symbol of peace and fruitfulness". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Oliver include: Oliver Hudson — Oliver Rutledge Hudson is an American actor.; Oliver Stark — Oliver Leon Jones, known professionally as Oliver Stark, is a British actor.; Oliver Baumann — Oliver Baumann is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim, where he is also captain, and the Germany....
Yes — Oliver is very popular in the United States, ranked #3 in 2024. It's a transatlantic favourite used widely on both sides of the Atlantic.
3,492
UK babies named Oliver (2024)
~0.1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~1.8
In a school of 600
→ Stable
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Oliver
Likely around 1 other Oliver in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Oliver
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
From Olivier, an Old French form of the Germanic name Alfher (literally "elf army/warrior")
Nicknames
Moll, Noll, Ollie, Olli, Olly, Oli
Name Day
July 11 (Austria), July 1 (Croatia), October 2 (Czech Republic), May 22 (Estonia), May 29 (Finland), August 3 (Norway), July 7 (Slovakia), April 15 (Sweden)
Oliver Rutledge Hudson is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Adam Rhodes in the CBS comedy series Rules of Engagement, Jeff Fordham on the ABC musical drama series Nashville and Wes Gardner in the Fox horror comedy Scream Queens.
Oliver Leon Jones, known professionally as Oliver Stark, is a British actor. He is best known for his roles as Evan "Buck" Buckley in 9-1-1 on Fox/ABC, and as Ryder in AMC's martial arts-based drama Into the Badlands.
Oliver Baumann is a German professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim, where he is also captain, and the Germany national team.
Oliver Dimsdale is an English actor, known for portraying Louis Trevelyan in the BBC TV serial He Knew He Was Right and Daniel Marlowe in Grantchester.
Joseph Nathan "King" Oliver was an American jazz cornet player and bandleader. He was particularly recognized for his playing style and his pioneering use of mutes in jazz.
Oliver Cromwell was an English statesman, farmer and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially as a senior commander in the Parliamentarian army and later as a politician.
Jay Russell Oliver is an American jazz musician (piano, keyboards and synths), composer, record producer, programmer and engineer. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson's band.
Oliver Wellington "Billy" Sipple was an American man known for intervening to foil an assassination attempt against U.S. President Gerald Ford on September 22, 1975.
Chase Russell Oliver is an American political activist and politician who was the nominee of the Libertarian Party for the 2024 United States presidential election. Oliver finished fifth in the popular vote with 0.4% and 650,126 votes.