Olivia (name)


Olivia is a feminine given name in the English language. It is derived from Latin oliva, olive. Both Oliva and Olivia were Latinate forms in use in English-speaking countries as early as the 13th century. Olive was in common use as a vernacular form. Though not invented by William Shakespeare, the name was popularized by a character in Twelfth Night.
Usage of the name in the 20th and 21st centuries has been influenced by popular culture, including the popularity of the actress Olivia Newton-John in the 1970s and of Olivia Kendall, a child character played by actress Raven-Symoné on the American television sitcom The Cosby Show. Olivia has been a popular name throughout the English-speaking world since the mid-1990s, and is also well used throughout Europe and South America.

Variants

People

Fictional characters with the name