Alternative Names for Oliver

Oliver has been in the top ten baby names for years in many countries. Here are just a few alternatives to consider.
  1. Fletcher
    • Origin:

      English occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "arrow-maker"
    • Description:

      Fletcher is a common surname with a touch of quirkiness; it definitely fits into the So Far Out It's In category--and moving further in all the time along with other occupational names from Parker to Forester.
  2. Gulliver
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "glutton"
    • Description:

      Gulliver is an obscure Gaelic surname known almost solely through its literary Travels until actor Gary Oldman used it for his son, instantly transforming it into a lively option. British actors Damian Lewis, of Homeland, and Helen McCrory also have a son named Gulliver.
  3. Lander
    • Origin:

      English from German
    • Meaning:

      "territory"
    • Description:

      Lander is a name that straddles two trends. It's an er-ending surname name, ala Cooper and Carter. And it's also, more subtly, a green name, in the manner of Fielder or Reed.
  4. Leander
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "lion-man"
    • Description:

      Leander was once an almost unknown name, however, with the popularity of Leo and the rise of Leandro, it now feels like a perfectly accessible alternative to Leon or Alexander. In Greek legend, Leander was the powerful figure who swam across the Hellespont every night to visit his beloved Hero, a priestess of Venus.
  5. Levi
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "joined, attached"
    • Description:

      Levi, lighter and more energetic than most biblical names, with its up vowel ending, combines Old Testament gravitas with the casual flair associated with Levi Strauss jeans.
  6. Louie
    • Origin:

      Variation of Louis, German and French
    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrier"
    • Description:

      Celebrated in song—the rock 'n' roll classic "Louie, Louie"—this is a gregarious, friendly spelling of Louis not often used as a full first name. It reentered the US Top 1000 in 2015. It's a highly popular choice in England and Wales.
  7. Luther
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "army people"
    • Description:

      Once restricted to evangelical Protestants honoring the ecclesiastical reformer and theologian Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant revolution. In more recent times it has been favored by parents wishing to honor civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr. Luther was a Top 100 name at the turn of the last century, but fell off the list in the early 1990s.
      Luther Burbank was an eminent botanist and Luther Vandross was a popular R&B artist. It's the name of a main character on the Disney series Zeke and Luther. The name was given a shot of contemporary energy via Idris Elba's dynamic performance in the eponymous BBC crime drama.
  8. Miller
    • Origin:

      English occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "grinder of grain"
    • Description:

      Miller is an up-and-coming choice in the stylish occupational genre, among the fastest-rising names for both boys and girls in the US in 2023.
  9. Octavius
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "eighth"
    • Description:

      Octavius, which was at one time used for the eighth child in a family, has the worn leather patina of all the ancient Roman names now up for reconsideration. As a Roman family name, it derives from the uncommon forename Octavus, which designated an eighth son.
  10. Olivier
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "olive tree"
    • Description:

      More and more frequently heard as the Gallic version of Oliver, Olivier could be seen as a tribute to the great British actor, Sir Laurence O.
  11. Oliviero
    • Olsen
      • Origin:

        Scandinavian
      • Meaning:

        "Olaf's son"
      • Description:

        Too tied to those well-publicized twins.
    • Orlando
      • Origin:

        Italian variation of Roland
      • Meaning:

        "famous throughout the land"
      • Description:

        Orlando, the ornate Italianate twist on the dated Roland, with a literary heritage stretching back to Shakespeare and before, has appealing book-ended o's, and is open to combination with almost any last name, a la British actor, Orlando Bloom.
    • Oscar
      • Origin:

        English or Irish
      • Meaning:

        "God spear, or deer-lover or champion warrior"
      • Description:

        Oscar is one of the most stylish Old Man Names of our era. While it's softened slightly in popularity over the past 20 years, that may be considered a very good thing.
    • Otis
      • Origin:

        Variation of Otto, German
      • Meaning:

        "wealthy"
      • Description:

        Otis has real appeal for parents attracted to its catchy O initial and combination of strength and spunk. The appealing hero of the British TV show Sex Education has done much to propel Otis into the forefront of cool names.
    • Owen
      • Origin:

        Welsh
      • Meaning:

        "young warrior; well-born"
      • Description:

        Owen, a resonant Celtic name, has ranked among the Top 100 boys' names in the US for 20 years and is now at its highest point ever.
    • Olivander
      • Peter
        • Origin:

          Greek
        • Meaning:

          "rock, stone"
        • Description:

          Peter is derived from the Greek Petros, meaning "rock" or "stone." One of the most important figures in the Christian hagiography is Saint Peter, keeper of the Gates of Heaven. Born Simon bar Jonah, he was given the nickname Peter by Jesus, to signify that he would be the rock on which Christ would build Christianity. Centuries later, there was Peter the Great, the czar who developed Russia as a major European power.
      • River
        • Origin:

          Nature name
        • Description:

          River shares the tranquil feeling of all the water names, and seems to have pretty much escaped its past strong association with River Phoenix and his unfortunate fate. Actor Joaquin Phoenix named his son with actress Rooney Mara after his brother River.
      • Victor
        • Origin:

          Latin
        • Meaning:

          "conqueror"
        • Description:

          Victor is one of the earliest Christian names, borne (as Vittorio) by several saints and popes, symbolizing Christ's victory over death. It has been quietly in the Top 200 since 1880, but just recently has taken on a cool edge by fashionable parents in London and seems ripe for a similar reevaluation here too.