Given name & surname
Oli
“olive tree”
In English use, Oli is a diminutive of Oliver. An “olive tree” interpretation is associated with Oliver, but it does not settle the name’s original meaning.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Oli is a diminutive of Oliver. An “olive tree” interpretation is associated with Oliver, but it does not settle the name’s original meaning.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Oli is a diminutive of Oliver. Oliver reached English through Norman usage. Oliver’s deeper origin is probably Germanic, although its exact earlier form is uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Oli is a diminutive of Oliver. In Hungarian usage, Oli is a diminutive of Olivér. In English use, Oli is a diminutive of Oliver. The shared background comes through Oliver: The French form Olivier resembles a Late Latin word for an olive tree. Oliver also appears among legendary companions with Germanic names, suggesting that Olivier may have reshaped an older Germanic name, perhaps Olaf. That deeper connection remains uncertain.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 2009. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Oli is a diminutive of Oliver. The history of Oliver gives this family its wider story. In the medieval Song of Roland, Olivier is Roland’s thoughtful and cautious companion in arms. This places the name in the world of Charlemagne’s legendary paladins.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Oli through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 157
- 140 boys · 17 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 22 babies
- 2025
- 15
- #6,066 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +57%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 15 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,066 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 47.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 429 as a first name in 2020; 558 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Oli’s family of names
In English usage, Oli is a diminutive of Oliver. In German usage, Oli has a related form in OLLI. In Hungarian usage, Oli is a diminutive of Olivér.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Oli has relatives in 3 languages.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
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 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Oli
- Oli SykesBritish singer and record producerborn 1986
- Oli McBurnieScottish association football player (born 1996)
- Olly StoneEnglish cricketer (born 1993)
- Oli LondonBritish Internet personality, singer and actorborn 1990
- Oli ShawScottish association football player (born 1998)
- Oli BeckingsaleEnglish cyclistborn 1976
- Oli AhmadBangladeshi politician, military personnel and former president of the Bangladesh Football Federation (born 1939)
- Oli BrownEnglish guitarist and singerborn 1989
- Oli AhadBangladeshi politician and activist1927–2012
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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