Oliver

Boys

Best rank #3 (2024) · ranked in 13 years

Over 13 tracked years from 2013 to 2025, Oliver held a spot in the rankings.

It climbed from #79 in 2013 to #3 in 2025.

The latest tally (2025) puts Oliver at #3.

At its peak year of 2024, Oliver was given to 15,421 newborns.

Oliver was most popular around 2024, making it characteristic of the 2020s generation.

Rank by year

11020201320192025
  1. 2025314,963
  2. 2024315,421
  3. 2023414,820
  4. 2022415,204
  5. 2021514,739
  6. 2020514,300
  7. 2019613,989
  8. 20181113,519
  9. 20171613,239
  10. 20161913,084
  11. 20152811,690
  12. 2014479,466
  13. 2013797,288

Similar names

If Oliver is on your shortlist, Olivia, Owen are worth a look too, given the similar sound and comparable popularity trends.

Origin & meaning

Oliver comes from the Old French name Olivier, likely linked to the Latin oliva ("olive tree"), a symbol of peace, though some scholars trace an underlying Germanic or Old Norse root such as Aleifr. The name has a long European history, notably borne by the medieval knight Olivier in the Song of Roland.

Notable people named Oliver

  • Oliver Cromwell - 17th-century English military and political leader who ruled as Lord Protector
  • Oliver Stone - American film director known for Platoon and JFK

Oliver has climbed steadily in US rankings over the past two decades and now regularly sits in the top three boys' names, part of a broader trend of parents favoring classic, vintage-revival names.

Where Oliver is most popular

In 2025, Oliver was recorded in 51 of the 51 US jurisdictions the SSA reports on, with 14,939 births nationwide.

The largest share came from California at 1,456 births, 9.8% of the national total, where it ranked #13 that year.

By census region the name skews South, which accounts for 37.3% of Oliver births, against 15.2% Northeast, 24.9% Midwest, 22.6% West.

State rankings spread more than the national figure suggests: Oliver placed as high as #1 in Ohio and as low as #29 in Mississippi.

Top states, 2025

  1. 1California1,456 · #13 there
  2. 2Texas1,361 · #11 there
  3. 3Florida831 · #11 there
  4. 4New York703 · #9 there
  5. 5Ohio653 · #1 there

Share by census region

  • Northeast15.2%
  • Midwest24.9%
  • South37.3%
  • West22.6%

Shares are of this name's national total, not of each state's births. SSA withholds any name under 5 occurrences per state and year. Browse all states

Frequently asked questions

Is Oliver a popular name?
Oliver reached a best rank of #3 in 2024 and has charted in 13 years.
Where does Oliver rank now?
In the most recent data (2025), Oliver ranks #3.
Is Oliver a boy or girl name?
It is recorded primarily as a boys' name.
When was Oliver most popular?
Oliver peaked around 2024.

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Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - Popular Baby Names (national)