National Olivia Day – June 11, 2023

History of National Olivia Day

Olivia is a popular name for girls, not only in the United States, but also in the U.K., Australia, and Canada. In fact, it has ranked in the top 100 U.S. names since 1990. Olivia is primarily a female name of English origin and means ‘Ancestor’s Descendant.’ It derives from the male name, Oliver, which is a derivation of the old Norse name, ‘Áleifr.’ Although there is a popular opinion about the meaning of the name, it is said that it is not related to olives or the olive tree.
Some attribute the popularity of the name to the character Olivia in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” which has kept it popular ever since. In the well-known 17th-century play, Olivia is a romantic figure both noble and beautiful.

The most common nicknames for Olivia include Liv, Livvy, and Libby. There are numerous famous actresses called Olivia, such as Olivia de Havilland, Olivia Wilde, and Olivia Hussey. One of the more famous actresses/singers is Olivia Newton-John. The famous writer was Olivia Goldsmith and American painter Olivia De Berardinis.

There are also places in the United States named Olivia. These include Olivia, North Carolina, and Olivia, Minnesota. Fictional Olivias include the piglet in the children’s book by Ian Falconer. It is also a popular name for television characters including Olivia Benson (“Law & Order”), Olivia Pope (“Scandal”), and Olivia Dunham (“Fringe”). In 2014, the refreshingly strong, female name made the jump from number three to the number two spot in the U.S., remaining there until its victorious transition to number one in 2019.