Oliver

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Oliver

Gender: Masculine.
Language: English.

Etymology:
Oliver is most likely an English name meaning “Olive Tree,” from the Latin word “olivarius.” This theory is disputed, however, since no known Roman was actually named Olivarius.
-or-
Oliver is an alternate form of Olaf.
-or-
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names (1977) suggests Oliver is another form of the Old German name, Alfihar, or the Old English Aelfhare, both of which mean “Elf Army,” from “aelf” (elf), and “heri” (army).

History:
Oliver, although its etymology is disputed, was first noted as the name (Olivier) of one of Charlemagne’s (742-814) knights. It was a popular name of the Middle Ages, and was revived in the 19th century (possibly due to Charles Dickens’ beloved novel, Oliver Twist). It steadily declined in the United States during the twentieth century, but now seems to be experiencing a bit of an upswing.

Pronunciation: OLL-eh-verr.

Diminutives: Ollie, Noll.

Alternates:
Breton: Olier.
French: Olivier.
Hawaiian: Oliwa.
Scottish Gaelic: Olghar, Oilbhreis.

Feminine: Olivia.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Oliver Goldsmith (1730-1774)
English essayist.
Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)
American poet and humorist.
Oliver St. John Gogarty (1878-1957)
Irish writer.
Oliver Hazard Perry La Farge (1901-1963)
American writer.
Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992)
French composer.
Oliver Wendell Harrington (1912-1995)
American cartoonist.
Olivier Debré (1920-1999)
French painter.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Olivier de La March (1425-1502)
Burgundian chronicler and poet.

Fictional Characters:
Oliver Twist
A poor orphan boy from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

Miscellaneous:
Olivier de Clisson (1332-1407)
European military commander during the Hundred Years’ War.
Olivier Brunel (1540-1585)
Flemish explorer of Russia.
Oliver Hazard Perry (1785-1819)
American naval officer.
Oliver Fisher Winchester (1810-1880)
American gun manufacturer.
Oliver O. Howard (1830-1909)
American general.

Political Figures:
Oliver Saint John (1598-1673)
English politician
Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)
English leader during the English Civil War.
Oliver Wolcott (1726-1797)
American politician.
Oliver Ellsworth (1745-1807)
American chief justice of the Supreme Court.
Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton (1823-1877)
American political leader.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935)
Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Oliver Tambo (1917-1993)
President of the African National Congress in South Africa.

Religious Figures:
Saint Oliver Plunket (1629-1681)
Primate of Ireland. Executed.

Scientists:
Oliver Evans (1755-1819)
American inventor.
Oliver Perry Hay (1846-1930)
American paleontologist.
Oliver Heaviside (1850-1925)
English physicist.
Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge (1851-1940)
English physicist.

Singers and Entertainers:
Oliver Hardy (1892-1957)
American comedian.
Oliver Reed (1938-1999)
British actor.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.040 % named Oliver

Popularity of Oliver:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1800: 93rd most popular.
1850: 69th most popular.
1875: 61st most popular.
1900-1910: 135th most popular.
1910-1920: 130th most popular.
1920-1930: 153rd most popular.
1930-1940: 204th most popular.
1940-1950: 255th most popular.
1950-1960: 350th most popular.
1960-1970: 482nd most popular.
1970-1980: 434th most popular.
1980-1990: 428th most popular.
1990: 367th most popular.
1991: 383rd most popular.
1992: 347th most popular.
1993: 353rd most popular.
1994: 361st most popular.
1995: 377th most popular.
1996: 370th most popular.
1997: 369th most popular.
1998: 360th most popular.
1999: 340th most popular.
2000: 305th most popular.
2001: 298th most popular.
2002: 267th most popular.
2003: 243rd most popular.

Popularity of Olivier:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-2000: N/A

In France...
1900: 172nd most popular.
1910: 112th most popular.
1920: 108th most popular.
1930: 93rd most popular.
1940: 104th most popular.
1950: 71st most popular.
1960: 36th most popular.
1970: 5th most popular.
1980: 12th most popular.
1990: 49th most popular.
2000: 142nd most popular.