Olive
GirlLatin · English: British /ˈɒl.ɪv/, American /ˈɑl.ɪv/; two syllables, stress on the first.
Olive pairs a direct botanical meaning with a long history as a given name. Its soft consonants and compact shape give it a quietly distinctive feel.
Origin
Latin
Pronunciation
English: British /ˈɒl.ɪv/, American /ˈɑl.ɪv/; two syllables, stress on the first.
“Olive” or “olive tree”.
Olive is a feminine name used in English and French, rooted in the Latin word for the olive and its tree. It has a history beyond today’s taste for plant names: Olive is recorded as a woman’s name in England in 1572. The olive branch’s association with peace adds a layer of symbolism to the name. Its literal meaning remains botanical, while the image of a branch offered in reconciliation can be part of its personal appeal. To our ear, the flowing l and voiced v make Olive gentle without sounding wispy; the short shape has a pleasing simplicity. In English, say the name in two syllables, stressing the first, with the short i of “sit” in the second. French Olive is /ɔ.liv/, with a clear ee-like vowel. Both end with the v sound: the written e does not add another syllable in these pronunciations.
Etymology: An English and French feminine name with roots in Latin oliva, the word for the olive and its tree.
Spelling table
Code
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Braille
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Name popularity
Latest year: 2025
Girls
Rank197
Boys
Rank10,398
Source
SSA records cover Social Security card applications, not every US birth. Names with fewer than 5 occurrences are omitted; gaps do not mean zero. Spellings are kept separate, except that SSA removes spaces and hyphens. Equal counts are ranked alphabetically. Ranks are calculated separately for boys and girls.
Origin
Latin