Olivia is a smash hit, a Shakespearean name in the US Top Ten since 2001, and equally popular through the Western World. But now it is her humbler cousin in the spotlight, thanks to Drew Barrymore’s new arrival.
Our Baby Name of the Day is Olive.
Olive feels retro, but she is a relatively new name. Oliva was a Late Latin appellation, worn by a second century saint. The spelling of Oliver was influenced by olive, but he’s actually derived from the same Germanic and Norse roots as Alvar and Olav. And smash-hit Olivia was created by Shakespeare for his comedy Twelfth Night, influenced by Oliver, Oliva, olive, or maybe all of the above.
Like many a nature name, she immediately brings to mind the tree and the fruit. This puts her in the company of Laurel and Rowan, as well as Clementine and Apple.
Olive comes from the Greek elaia, probably ultimately from an older language.
That tracks, because olive trees have been cultivated for eons. Horace and Homer wrote about olive trees; the original fuel for the Olympic eternal flame was olive oil. There are dozens of mentions in the Bible. An olive leaf in the mouth of a dove tells Noah that it is safe to dock his Ark. The Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, is of major significance in Judaism and Christianity.
Olive branches have a long history of use, too. In Ancient Greece they were worn by brides and the winners of athletic competitions. Virgil associated them with peace, and in Christian symbolism, the dove often carries an olive branch in his beak – a nod to Noah, but now a widely understood image of peace. It’s the same reason the eagle on the Great Seal of the United States has an olive branch in one of his talons.
So while Olive is a word name, we have plenty of associations layer on, lending her something of a virtue name vibe.
Her heyday in the late nineteenth century also makes her feel like a gentle antique, a successor to Emma or Grace, or a sister for sweetly vintage choices like Ada, Beatrice, and Mabel. And she was pretty popular at the time, appearing in the Top 100 from 1880 through 1903 and remained in the Top 200 until 1924.
Her hibernation has been long. She left the Top 1000 after 1950. For years, the most famous bearer was Olive Oyl. Popeye’s sweetheart actually existed in a comic strip for a decade before the Sailor Man made it on the scene. Just like Felix the Cat and Betty Boop, parents might have paused before considering Olive thanks to the familiarity of the animated figure.
But her revival could be nearly as swift:
- There was 1999’s Olive, the Other Reindeer.
- Then there was Olive Snook, Kristen Chenoweth’s character on short-lived fantasy crime dramaPushing Daisies.
- In 2010’s Easy A, Emma Stone played Olive Penderghast, the smart girl wrapped up in a scandal in a modern reboot of The Scarlet Letter.
In 2007, Olive re-entered the US Top 1000 at #989, and she’s climbed quickly, reaching #416 in 2011. It’s not quite as dramatic a climb as Isabella, but it is close.
Now with such a high-powered celeb birth in the headlines, Olive could catch on fast.
My grandmother’s sister is an Olive, but she goes by Betty, after her middle name, Elizabeth. It used to be a dowdy name, but now it’s super adorable. I personally LOVE Olive. It’s so cute and vintagey sounding and way more interesting than Olivia. Olivia is way over used so it’s not as special.
I absolutely HATE the name Olive. I don’t like the sound of it and I don’t like its namesake food.
I like Olive better than Olivia and Oliver… not sure why. I like the nature and virtue associations and I think Olive would be beautiful on a little girl. Oh, and for a name of the day, would you consider doing Alexis?
Olivia is one of those names that everybody likes, but Olive is one of those names where you either “Love It” or you “Hate it.” I’m guessing Olive will stay hidden with Agnes and Matilda, where even with a celebrity endorsement it won’t really take off. Which is too bad, because I like the strong sound of Olive.
I know of a Oliva, (young relative of a friend of a friend.) I’ve wondered about her name ever since I first heard it, but I don’t know her parents well enough to ask… 🙁
The Olive/Olivia/Oliver set doesn’t appeal to me. However Elaia is attractive. Very similar to Elijah, but also similar to Maia and Gaia with the popular El- beginning.
Olive was also the name of the little girl in the film Little Miss Sunshine played by Abigail Breslin.
I have been checking this blog for a long time. My favorite appears today. Love the picture. I have been married 9 months to a man with the last name Pendergast, when I saw the movie Easy A, I became obsessed with a future daughter with the name Olive Pendergast
I adore Olive. The husband, unfortunately, does not share my sentiments. All he sees is the fruit and color.
I love Olive, so so much. For its classical connotations (I’m a huge Ancient Greece nerd) as much as her short snappy sound. My future daughter will be Olive, I’m just undecided whether to use it as a middle or a first.
Thanks for this!
I like Olive. I know a 5 year old Olive – but she is Olivia on her birth certificate. Her parents have just always called her Olive. If more parents with Olivias decide on Olive as a nickname, she could sneakily become more popular.