Ollie
Meaning of Ollie
Ollie is a sunshine-bright nickname that’s learned to stand on its own two feet. Sprung from the leafy roots of Oliver and Olivia—names that trace back to the Latin oliva, “olive tree,” and its age-old symbol of peace—Ollie also carries a whiff of medieval legend, since some scholars tie Oliver to the Norse “elf army.” That blend of gentleness and quiet strength explains why the name has been quietly rolling through American birth records since the 19th century, sliding from early-1900s popularity into a mellow mid-century lull, and now popping back up the charts as parents rediscover its cheerful zip. Pronounced AH-lee or AW-lee, depending on which side of the Atlantic you’re chatting from (German speakers lean toward OH-lee), it’s delightfully unisex, equally at home on a romper-clad baby girl or a skateboard-toting boy—complete with a wink to the famous skate trick that sends the board flying skyward. Pop-culture fans may also think of Laurel and Hardy’s bowler-hatted Ollie, or DC’s arrow-slinging Oliver “Ollie” Queen, proof that the name can be both cuddly and heroic. In short, Ollie is a pocket-sized, peace-loving adventurer—perfect for parents who want a name that’s easy to say, hard to forget, and destined to grow right alongside their little one.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as AH-lee (/ɑli/)
British English
- Pronunced as AW-lee (/ɔ:li/)
German
- Pronunced as OH-lee (/o.li/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Ollie
| Ollie Carnegie - Oliver Angelo Carnegie was an Italian American baseball player who enjoyed a 15-season minor league career, batting .309 and managing the Jamestown Falcons. |
| Ollie Watkins - Oliver Watkins is an English striker for Aston Villa and the national team, celebrated for his finishing ability and dedicated work ethic. |
| Ollie Pope - Oliver Pope is an English cricketer who made his Test debut in 2018, plays for Surrey, and is a right-handed batter and former vice-captain for England. |
| Ollie Robinson - Oliver Robinson is an English cricketer for Sussex, infamous for bowling the most expensive over in County Championship history. |
| Ollie Lawrence - Oliver Francis Lawrence is an English professional rugby union centre for Bath and the England national team. |
| Ollie Wines - Oliver Wines is a Port Adelaide AFL footballer who won the Brownlow Medal in 2021 after a standout, record-equalling season. |
| Ollie Pickering - Oliver Daniel Pickering was an American baseball outfielder and manager with a 30-year career, playing for several MLB teams from 1896 to 1908. |
| Ollie Thorley is an English rugby union player for Gloucester in Premiership Rugby. |
| Ollie Luba - Oleh "Ollie" R. Luba is an American engineer who helped develop GPS III and has worked at Lockheed Martin for over 28 years. |
| Ollie Josephine Prescott Baird Bennett was an American physician and one of the first women in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, serving as a first lieutenant in World War I where she trained hundreds in anesthesia. |
| Ollie McGill - Oliver James McGill is an Australian musician renowned as The Cat Empire's keyboardist and the composer of "Dumb Ways to Die." |
| Ollie Schniederjans - Oliver Frank Schniederjans is an American professional golfer who was a three-time NCAA All-American at Georgia Tech and a former world number one amateur. |
| Ollie Smith is a Scotland international rugby player for Glasgow Warriors, primarily a full back who can also play centre. |
| Ollie O'Connor - Oliver O'Connor is an Irish former hurler who played for St. Lachtain's club and the Kilkenny senior team, typically in the full-forward line. |
| Ollie Powers was an American jazz drummer and singer. |
