Given name & surname
Ole
“one who is alert; watchful”
Ole is used as a given name and a surname. One Scandinavian interpretation is “one who is alert; watchful.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Scandinavian interpretation is “one who is alert; watchful.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Scandinavian.
How it developed
In Danish usage, Ole is a short form of Olaf. In Norwegian Nynorsk usage, Ole is a short form of Óláfr.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Ole through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,125
- 2,125 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1881
- 42 babies
- 2025
- 21
- #4,820 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −13%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 21 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,820 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 13.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 42 in 1881. In 2025, Minnesota had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,104 as a first name in 2020; 136 as a surname in 2000.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Ole’s family of names
In Danish usage, Ole is a short form of Olaf. In Norwegian usage, Ole has a feminine form in OLETTE. Ole has a related form in Olae.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Ole has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its Old Norse roots to each of them.
10 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 8
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Ole
- Ole RømerDanish astronomer (*1644 – †1710)
- Ole Gunnar SolskjærNorwegian association football managerborn 1973
- Ole Einar BjørndalenNorwegian biathlete and cross-country skierborn 1974
- Ole Kirk ChristiansenDanish businessman (1891-1958)
- Ole BullNorwegian violinist (1810–1880)
- Ole NydahlDanish lama1941–2026
- Ole WormDanish scientist (1588–1654)
- Ole BischofGerman judokaborn 1979
- Ole von BeustGerman politicianborn 1955
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Ole, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Arch
“one who is bold, brave, and genuine”
>99% boys
Garfield
“from the spear field”
>99% boys
Grover
“from the grove of trees”
>99% boys
Arne
“resembling an eagle”
>99% boys
Gustave
“of the staff of the gods”
>99% boys
Alvis
“one who is wise”
>99% boys
Nels
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Roosevelt
“from the field of roses”
77% boys · 23% girls