Oliver

See also: oliver, Olivér, and Óliver

English

Etymology

From Middle English Oliver, from Old French Olivier, by folk etymology derived from the Latin name Olīvārius, but probably representing an Old High German form of Old Norse Óleifr (“ancestral + relic”) (modern Danish Olaf and Swedish Olof), or Proto-Germanic *ala- (“all”) + *wēraz (“true”) (modern Swedish allvar). Name of a paladin of Charlemagne in medieval French romance.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɑlɪvɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɒlɪvə/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Ol‧i‧ver

Proper noun

Oliver (countable and uncountable, plural Olivers)

1. A male given name from the Germanic languages.
   • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 98, column 1:

     Froyſard, a Countreyman of ours, records, / England all Oliuers and Rowlands breed, / During the time Edward the third did raigne: […]

   • 1837 August, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “In Which Oliver Is Taken Better Care of than He Ever Was Before. With Some Particulars Concerning a Certain Picture.”, in Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], published 1838, →OCLC, page 187:

     "My name is Oliver, sir," replied the little invalid with a look of great astonishment. "Oliver," said Mr. Brownlow; "Oliver what? Oliver White,—eh?" "No, sir, Twist,—Oliver Twist." "Queer name," said the old gentleman. What made you tell the magistrate your name was White?"

   • 1991, Julian Barnes, Talking It Over, Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 13:

     And Oliver suits me, don't you find? It rather goes with my dark, dark hair and kissable ivory teeth, my slim waist, my panache and my linen suit with the ineradicable stain of Pinot Noir.

2. A surname originating as a patronymic.
3. A placename
   1. A number of places in Canada:
      1. A town in British Columbia.
      2. An urban neighborhood of Edmonton, Alberta.
      3. A community of Colchester County, Nova Scotia.
      4. A community of Essex County, Ontario.
   2. A number of places in the United States:
      1. An unincorporated community in Scott County, Arkansas.
      2. A ghost town in Yuba County, California.
      3. A tiny city in Screven County, Georgia.
      4. An unincorporated community in Edgar County, Illinois.
      5. An unincorporated community in Whiteside County, Illinois.
      6. An unincorporated community in Posey County, Indiana.
      7. A neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland.
      8. An unincorporated community in Kimball County, Nebraska.
      9. A census-designated place in Fayette County, Pennsylvania.
      10. A village in Douglas County, Wisconsin.
   3. (dated, slang) Synonym of The Moon. A moon in Earth, Solar System
      • 1834, William Harrison Ainsworth, Rookwood, The Game of High Toby:

        Now Oliver puts his blank nightcap on,¶ And every star its glim is hiding,¶ And forth to the heath is the scampsman gone,¶ His matchless cherry-black prancer riding;

4. Alternative form of oliver
   • 2017, C. How, Building Histories: The Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Construction History Society Conference‎^[1], page 81:

     The last device, the Oliver, was an innovative alternative to the various forms of small tilt hammers recorded and illustrated by Agricola.

Derived terms

• Oliver County
• Oliver Springs
• Bath Oliver
• a Roland for an Oliver

Related terms

• Ollie
• Olivia

Translations

male given name

• Arabic: أَوْلِيفَر m (ʔawlīfar), أَوْلِيڤَر m (ʔawlīvar)
• Catalan: Oliver (ca) m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 奧利弗／奥利弗 (zh) (Àolìfú)

• Czech: Oliver m
• Danish: Oliver
• Dutch: Oliver (nl) m
• Esperanto: Olivero
• Faroese: Olivur m
• Finnish: Oliver (fi)
• French: Olivier (fr) m
• German: Oliver (de) m
• Greek: Όλθφες m (Ólthfes), Όλιβερ (el) m (Óliver)
• Greenlandic: Uuli
• Hebrew: אוליבר m (ʾawlīvar)
• Hindi: ओलिवर m (olivar)
• Hungarian: Olivér (hu)
• Icelandic: Óliver (is) m
• Indonesian: Oliver
• Irish: Oilibhéar
• Italian: Oliviero (it) m
• Japanese: オリバー (Oribā)
• Korean: 올리버 (Ollibeo)
• Latin: Olivarius m, Oliverius m
• Latvian: Olivers m
• Malay: Oliver
• Maori: Ōriwa
• Marathi: ऑलिव्हर m (ŏlivhar)
• Norwegian: Oliver (no)
• Old Occitan: Olivier
• Persian: الیور (oliver)
• Polish: Oliwer (pl) m, Oliwier (pl) m
• Portuguese: Olivério m, Óliver m
• Romanian: Oliver m
• Russian: О́ливер (ru) m (Óliver)
• Sardinian: Alaverru
• Scottish Gaelic: Oilbhreis
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: Оливер m

  Roman: Oliver m

• Spanish: Oliverio (es) m, Oliver (es) m
• Swedish: Oliver (sv)
• Thai: โอลิเวอร์ (oh lí wer)

Adjective

Oliver (comparative more Oliver, superlative most Oliver)

1. (Cockney rhyming slang) Drunk, pissed.

Synonyms

• Oliver Twist; see also Thesaurus:drunk

Anagrams

• violer, virole

Catalan

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central) [u.liˈβe]
• IPA^(key): (Balearic) [o.liˈve]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [o.liˈveɾ]

Proper noun

Oliver m

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver

Proper noun

Oliver m or f by sense

1. a surname

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈolɪvɛr]

Proper noun

Oliver m anim

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver

Declension

Declension of Oliver (hard masculine animate)

	singular	plural
nominative	Oliver	Oliverové
genitive	Olivera	Oliverů
dative	Oliverovi, Oliveru	Oliverům
accusative	Olivera	Olivery
vocative	Olivere	Oliverové
locative	Oliverovi, Oliveru	Oliverech
instrumental	Oliverem	Olivery

Danish

Etymology

From English Oliver.

Proper noun

Oliver

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver

References

[2] Statistics of Denmark: 13 041 males in Denmark on January 14, 2011 with the given name Oliver, with the highest frequency in 2010. Accessed on 6 July 2011.

Estonian

Proper noun

Oliver

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver

Finnish

Etymology

From English Oliver, in many cases via Swedish.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈoliʋer/, [ˈo̞liʋe̞r]
• Rhymes: -oliʋer
• Syllabification^(key): O‧li‧ver

Proper noun

Oliver

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver

Declension

Inflection of Oliver (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
nominative		Oliver	Oliverit
genitive		Oliverin	Oliverien
partitive		Oliveria	Olivereja
illative		Oliveriin	Olivereihin
		singular	plural
nominative		Oliver	Oliverit
accusative	nom.	Oliver	Oliverit
	gen.	Oliverin
genitive		Oliverin	Oliverien
partitive		Oliveria	Olivereja
inessive		Oliverissa	Olivereissa
elative		Oliverista	Olivereista
illative		Oliveriin	Olivereihin
adessive		Oliverilla	Olivereilla
ablative		Oliverilta	Olivereilta
allative		Oliverille	Olivereille
essive		Oliverina	Olivereina
translative		Oliveriksi	Olivereiksi
abessive		Oliveritta	Olivereitta
instructive		—	Oliverein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Oliver (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Oliverini Oliverini accusative nom. Oliverini Oliverini gen. Oliverini genitive Oliverini Oliverieni partitive Oliveriani Oliverejani inessive Oliverissani Olivereissani elative Oliveristani Olivereistani illative Oliveriini Olivereihini adessive Oliverillani Olivereillani ablative Oliveriltani Olivereiltani allative Oliverilleni Olivereilleni essive Oliverinani Olivereinani translative Oliverikseni Olivereikseni abessive Oliverittani Olivereittani instructive — — comitative — Olivereineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Oliverisi Oliverisi accusative nom. Oliverisi Oliverisi gen. Oliverisi genitive Oliverisi Oliveriesi partitive Oliveriasi Oliverejasi inessive Oliverissasi Olivereissasi elative Oliveristasi Olivereistasi illative Oliveriisi Olivereihisi adessive Oliverillasi Olivereillasi ablative Oliveriltasi Olivereiltasi allative Oliverillesi Olivereillesi essive Oliverinasi Olivereinasi translative Oliveriksesi Olivereiksesi abessive Oliverittasi Olivereittasi instructive — — comitative — Olivereinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Oliverimme Oliverimme accusative nom. Oliverimme Oliverimme gen. Oliverimme genitive Oliverimme Oliveriemme partitive Oliveriamme Oliverejamme inessive Oliverissamme Olivereissamme elative Oliveristamme Olivereistamme illative Oliveriimme Olivereihimme adessive Oliverillamme Olivereillamme ablative Oliveriltamme Olivereiltamme allative Oliverillemme Olivereillemme essive Oliverinamme Olivereinamme translative Oliveriksemme Olivereiksemme abessive Oliverittamme Olivereittamme instructive — — comitative — Olivereinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Oliverinne Oliverinne accusative nom. Oliverinne Oliverinne gen. Oliverinne genitive Oliverinne Oliverienne partitive Oliverianne Oliverejanne inessive Oliverissanne Olivereissanne elative Oliveristanne Olivereistanne illative Oliveriinne Olivereihinne adessive Oliverillanne Olivereillanne ablative Oliveriltanne Olivereiltanne allative Oliverillenne Olivereillenne essive Oliverinanne Olivereinanne translative Oliveriksenne Olivereiksenne abessive Oliverittanne Olivereittanne instructive — — comitative — Olivereinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative Oliverinsa Oliverinsa accusative nom. Oliverinsa Oliverinsa gen. Oliverinsa genitive Oliverinsa Oliveriensa partitive Oliveriaan Oliveriansa Oliverejaan Oliverejansa inessive Oliverissaan Oliverissansa Olivereissaan Olivereissansa elative Oliveristaan Oliveristansa Olivereistaan Olivereistansa illative Oliveriinsa Olivereihinsa adessive Oliverillaan Oliverillansa Olivereillaan Olivereillansa ablative Oliveriltaan Oliveriltansa Olivereiltaan Olivereiltansa allative Oliverilleen Oliverillensa Olivereilleen Olivereillensa essive Oliverinaan Oliverinansa Olivereinaan Olivereinansa translative Oliverikseen Oliveriksensa Olivereikseen Olivereiksensa abessive Oliverittaan Oliverittansa Olivereittaan Olivereittansa instructive — — comitative — Olivereineen Olivereinensa

or rarely:

Inflection of Oliver (Kotus type 6/paperi, no gradation)
nominative		Oliver	Oliverit
genitive		Oliverin	Oliverien Olivereiden Olivereitten
partitive		Oliveria	Olivereita Olivereja
illative		Oliveriin	Olivereihin
		singular	plural
nominative		Oliver	Oliverit
accusative	nom.	Oliver	Oliverit
	gen.	Oliverin
genitive		Oliverin	Oliverien Olivereiden Olivereitten
partitive		Oliveria	Olivereita Olivereja
inessive		Oliverissa	Olivereissa
elative		Oliverista	Olivereista
illative		Oliveriin	Olivereihin
adessive		Oliverilla	Olivereilla
ablative		Oliverilta	Olivereilta
allative		Oliverille	Olivereille
essive		Oliverina	Olivereina
translative		Oliveriksi	Olivereiksi
abessive		Oliveritta	Olivereitta
instructive		—	Oliverein
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Oliver (Kotus type 6/paperi, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Oliverini Oliverini accusative nom. Oliverini Oliverini gen. Oliverini genitive Oliverini Oliverieni Olivereideni Olivereitteni partitive Oliveriani Olivereitani Oliverejani inessive Oliverissani Olivereissani elative Oliveristani Olivereistani illative Oliveriini Olivereihini adessive Oliverillani Olivereillani ablative Oliveriltani Olivereiltani allative Oliverilleni Olivereilleni essive Oliverinani Olivereinani translative Oliverikseni Olivereikseni abessive Oliverittani Olivereittani instructive — — comitative — Olivereineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Oliverisi Oliverisi accusative nom. Oliverisi Oliverisi gen. Oliverisi genitive Oliverisi Oliveriesi Olivereidesi Olivereittesi partitive Oliveriasi Olivereitasi Oliverejasi inessive Oliverissasi Olivereissasi elative Oliveristasi Olivereistasi illative Oliveriisi Olivereihisi adessive Oliverillasi Olivereillasi ablative Oliveriltasi Olivereiltasi allative Oliverillesi Olivereillesi essive Oliverinasi Olivereinasi translative Oliveriksesi Olivereiksesi abessive Oliverittasi Olivereittasi instructive — — comitative — Olivereinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Oliverimme Oliverimme accusative nom. Oliverimme Oliverimme gen. Oliverimme genitive Oliverimme Oliveriemme Olivereidemme Olivereittemme partitive Oliveriamme Olivereitamme Oliverejamme inessive Oliverissamme Olivereissamme elative Oliveristamme Olivereistamme illative Oliveriimme Olivereihimme adessive Oliverillamme Olivereillamme ablative Oliveriltamme Olivereiltamme allative Oliverillemme Olivereillemme essive Oliverinamme Olivereinamme translative Oliveriksemme Olivereiksemme abessive Oliverittamme Olivereittamme instructive — — comitative — Olivereinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Oliverinne Oliverinne accusative nom. Oliverinne Oliverinne gen. Oliverinne genitive Oliverinne Oliverienne Olivereidenne Olivereittenne partitive Oliverianne Olivereitanne Oliverejanne inessive Oliverissanne Olivereissanne elative Oliveristanne Olivereistanne illative Oliveriinne Olivereihinne adessive Oliverillanne Olivereillanne ablative Oliveriltanne Olivereiltanne allative Oliverillenne Olivereillenne essive Oliverinanne Olivereinanne translative Oliveriksenne Olivereiksenne abessive Oliverittanne Olivereittanne instructive — — comitative — Olivereinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative Oliverinsa Oliverinsa accusative nom. Oliverinsa Oliverinsa gen. Oliverinsa genitive Oliverinsa Oliveriensa Olivereidensa Olivereittensa partitive Oliveriaan Oliveriansa Olivereitaan Oliverejaan Olivereitansa Oliverejansa inessive Oliverissaan Oliverissansa Olivereissaan Olivereissansa elative Oliveristaan Oliveristansa Olivereistaan Olivereistansa illative Oliveriinsa Olivereihinsa adessive Oliverillaan Oliverillansa Olivereillaan Olivereillansa ablative Oliveriltaan Oliveriltansa Olivereiltaan Olivereiltansa allative Oliverilleen Oliverillensa Olivereilleen Olivereillensa essive Oliverinaan Oliverinansa Olivereinaan Olivereinansa translative Oliverikseen Oliveriksensa Olivereikseen Olivereiksensa abessive Oliverittaan Oliverittansa Olivereittaan Olivereittansa instructive — — comitative — Olivereineen Olivereinensa

Statistics

• Oliver is the 98^th most common male given name in Finland, belonging to 7,256 male individuals (and as a middle name to 11,971 more), and also belongs to 17 female individuals (and as a middle name to 29 more), according to February 2023 data from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency of Finland.

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɔlivɐ/

• Audio:

  (file)

Proper noun

Oliver m (proper noun, strong, genitive Olivers)

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver

Norwegian

Etymology

From English Oliver. Has also been interpreted as a combination of Ole and Iver. In regular use since the 18th century.

Proper noun

Oliver

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver

References

• Kristoffer Kruken - Ola Stemshaug: Norsk personnamnleksikon, Det Norske Samlaget, Oslo 1995, →ISBN
• [3] Statistik sentralbyrå, Namnestatistikk: 3895 males with the given name Oliver living in Norway on January 1st 2011, with the frequency peak in the 2000s decade. Accessed on 6 July 2011.

Old French

Proper noun

Oliver m (nominative singular Olivers)

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver

Serbo-Croatian

Proper noun

Oliver m (Cyrillic spelling Оливер)

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver

Slovak

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɔlivɛr/

Proper noun

Oliver m pers (genitive singular Olivera, nominative plural Oliverovia, declension pattern of chlap)

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver

Declension

Declension of Oliver

	singular	plural
nominative	Oliver	Oliverovia
genitive	Olivera	Oliverov
dative	Oliverovi	Oliverom
accusative	Olivera	Oliverov
locative	Oliverovi	Oliveroch
instrumental	Oliverom	Olivermi

Further reading

• “Oliver”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2024

Swedish

Etymology

From English Oliver.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Proper noun

Oliver c (genitive Olivers)

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Oliver
   • 2010, Pirkko Lindberg, Hotell Hemlängtan, Schildts, →ISBN, page 268:

     Jag har tänkt resa ditöver i oktober då barnet ska komma till världen, och kan ni tänka att det ska heta Oliver om det blir en pojke, men är det inte något man äter?

     I'm planning to go there in October when the baby is supposed to come, and can you imagine that it will be called Oliver if it's a boy, but isn't that something you eat?

References

• [4] Statistiska centralbyrån and Sture Allén, Staffan Wåhlin, Förnamnsboken, Norstedts 1995, →ISBN: 15 312 males with the given name Oliver living in Sweden on December 31st, 2010, with the highest frequency in 2010, and an earlier frequency peak in early 20th century. Accessed on 6 July 2011.

Tagalog

Etymology

Borrowed from English Oliver, from Old French Olivier, by folk etymology from Latin Oliverius.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈʔoliveɾ/ [ˌʔoː.lɪˈvɛɾ]
  • IPA^(key): (more native-sounding) /ˈʔolibeɾ/ [ˌʔoː.lɪˈbɛɾ]
• Rhymes: -oliveɾ, (more native-sounding) -olibeɾ
• Syllabification: O‧li‧ver

Proper noun

Ólivér (Baybayin spelling ᜂᜎᜒᜊᜒᜇ᜔)

1. a male given name from English