Olivia is a feminine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the male name Oliver, which was derived from the Latin word "oliva," meaning olive tree. The name Olivia has been popular throughout history and has been borne by several notable historical figures, including Olivia, the daughter of Emperor Augustus and sister of Emperor Tiberius in ancient Rome.
The name Olivia gained significant popularity during the Elizabethan era when it was used as a character name in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." The name was also used in other works of literature throughout history, such as Charles Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist," further popularizing its use among English-speaking populations. Today, Olivia is consistently ranked among the top 10 most popular girl names in many English-speaking countries.
The meaning behind the name Olivia has varied over time and across cultures. In its original Latin form, it was associated with peace and abundance due to the olive tree's symbolism of harmony and prosperity. Some interpretations of the name also suggest that it means "peaceful" or "eloquence." Regardless of its specific meaning, Olivia is a timeless and elegant name that has stood the test of time and continues to be chosen by parents for their daughters today.
The name Olivia has seen significant fluctuations and growth in popularity over the past century and a half. Starting from just 44 births in 1880, it rose steadily to reach its first peak of 72 births in 1886. The number of newborn Olivias remained relatively stable throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fluctuating between 50 and 150 births annually.
A notable jump occurred around the 1940s, with Olivia births reaching a then-high of 857 in 1947. This trend continued into the 1960s and 1970s, with peaks at 507 births in 1974 and 1050 births in 1975. However, it was not until the late 1980s that Olivia's popularity began to skyrocket.
From around 2000 births per year in the late 1980s, Olivia quickly became one of the most popular names for girls in the United States. By 2007, there were over 16,500 newborn Olivias, and this number continued to rise, reaching an all-time high of nearly 18,000 births in 2012. The popularity of the name Olivia has since declined slightly but remains one of the top choices for parents, with approximately 17,000 births recorded annually between 2015 and 2022.
In total, over the past 143 years, there have been 538,805 newborn girls named Olivia in the United States. This impressive figure underscores just how much this name has captured the hearts of parents during different eras.