Best 100 Middle Names for Oliver in 2023
Oliver is a classic name that parents just love. Holding a spot in the top 100 boy names since 2017, we think the name’s popularity is here to stay for a while.
If you’re considering naming your baby boy Oliver, we’ve gathered our favorite middle names for Oliver below.
Meaning of the Name Oliver
The name Oliver is believed to have derived from the Norman French word Olivier, which is a form of the Germanic name Alfher or Old Norse name Aleifr.
Some believe the spelling is an altered form of the Latin word olivarius, meaning “olive tree planter.”
The French word olivier means “olive tree” and first became well known during the Middle Ages in Western Europe. Olivier was a friend and advisor to Roland in the French poem La Chanson de Roland.
Olivier changed in spelling to Oliver and became a common medieval name in England.
| Origin | French |
| Pronunciation | ahl-uh-ver |
Best Middle Names for Oliver
Oliver is a name that pairs well with so many middle name options. Below are our favorite middle names for Oliver.
- Oliver Alexander
- Oliver Ameer
- Oliver Andrew
- Oliver Asher
- Oliver Atlas
- Oliver Atticus
- Oliver Benedict
- Oliver Bernard
- Oliver Blake
- Oliver Braxton
- Oliver Briggs
- Oliver Chance
- Oliver Charles
- Oliver Clark
- Oliver Clyde
- Oliver Collins
- Oliver Conrad
- Oliver Dante
- Oliver Davis
- Oliver Dean
- Oliver Drake
- Oliver Dwight
- Oliver Edward
- Oliver Emerson
- Oliver Eugene
- Oliver Finn
- Oliver Finnegan
- Oliver Fletcher
- Oliver Flint
- Oliver Floyd
- Oliver Forest
- Oliver Franklin
- Oliver George
- Oliver Gibson
- Oliver Grant
- Oliver Grey
- Oliver Griffin
- Oliver Harrison
- Oliver Hayes
- Oliver Hugh
- Oliver Huxley
- Oliver Jace
- Oliver Jackson
- Oliver Jameson
- Oliver Jones
- Oliver Kane
- Oliver Kayden
- Oliver Kendrick
- Oliver Kinsley
- Oliver Knox
- Oliver Lawson
- Oliver Leon
- Oliver Levi
- Oliver Lincoln
- Oliver Maddox
- Oliver Marko
- Oliver Matthew
- Oliver Maurice
- Oliver McCoy
- Oliver Michael
- Oliver Miles
- Oliver Monroe
- Oliver Nash
- Oliver Nelson
- Oliver Nicholas
- Oliver Norville
- Oliver Odin
- Oliver Patrick
- Oliver Penn
- Oliver Pierre
- Oliver Platt
- Oliver Prescott
- Oliver Preston
- Oliver Price
- Oliver Reuben
- Oliver Rey
- Oliver Rogan
- Oliver Samson
- Oliver Sebastian
- Oliver Soren
- Oliver Steele
- Oliver Stone
- Oliver Sullivan
- Oliver Sutton
- Oliver Thomas
- Oliver Trent
- Oliver Tripp
- Oliver Troy
- Oliver Vaughn
- Oliver Wallace
- Oliver Ward
- Oliver Wayde
- Oliver Waylon
- Oliver Wayne
- Oliver Wells
- Oliver West
- Oliver Westley
- Oliver Woodrow
- Oliver Zaid
- Oliver Zane
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How To Pick a Middle Name
Do You Need A Middle Name?
In short, no. You do not need to give your child a middle name. You can choose to only give your child a first name and last name. There are no laws or requirements in regard to middle names.
However, according to research in the European Journal of Social Psychology, using middle initials in your name increases people’s perception of your intelligence.
Providing your child with a middle name will help differentiate them from others who share their same name. It also gives them a second option. Some children choose to go by their middle names instead of their first names as they grow older.
We all know how important it is to find the perfect name for our children. But did you know that in some cultures, middle names can be used as a way to give your child an additional identity? A new connection with their family history or heritage.
Here we will explore the things you should consider when giving your children a middle name!
Family Names
A child’s middle name is a great way to honor a beloved family member. It could be someone who has passed or a living family member who means a lot to the parents. Middle names don’t need to be gender-specific, so this could be a good place to include male or female family members.
Some parents like to include family surnames, such as the mother’s maiden name, as a middle name. This allows both sides of the family to pass down their name to the child. Any name that is meaningful to the family can make a nice middle name.
Flow and Initials
Probably the most important thing parents think of when choosing their child’s name is how it all sounds together. The first, middle, and last name should flow nicely together.
Many popular middle names are short, one or two syllable names because they pair well with most first names.
If family members speak another language or have an accent, take into consideration how everyone will be pronouncing the names when determining how they fit together
Monograms are popular in Southern culture, but it is still helpful to consider your child’s initials regardless of where you live.
Monograms for women are typically in the order of first name initial, large last name initial, and then middle name initial.
For men, the initials are usually in order of first, middle, and then last name. Avoid spelling out unfortunate words with the initials.
Middle names and their initials can also be used for nicknames. For example, Mary Elizabeth can be shortened to Mary Beth. Or, Elizabeth Zoe can be shortened to the initials E. Z. As a nickname.
If you just can’t narrow it down to a first name and a middle name, you can always include multiple middle names. In the United States, most people only have one middle name, but it is common around the world to have two or more.
It is recommended not to add too many middle names though. Most paperwork only leaves a spot for a single middle name or initial and multiple names can lead to confusion.
Special Meanings
A child’s middle name is a great way to pay homage to anything that holds special meaning to the parents. Some inspiration for names includes:
- Influential people in your life
- Characters from books, movies, or television
- Locations hold memories
- Languages that are important to the family
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First Name for Middle Name Oliver
If you’re considering Oliver as a middle name and looking for some first name ideas, we’ve compiled a list of first names we love!
- Alexander Oliver
- Arlo Oliver
- Austin Oliver
- Benjamin Oliver
- Benson Oliver
- Braxton Oliver
- Carlos Oliver
- Conrad Oliver
- Corbin Oliver
- Cornelius Oliver
- Daniel Oliver
- Derek Oliver
- Duncan Oliver
- Elijah Oliver
- Emerson Oliver
- Felix Oliver
- Franklin Oliver
- Greyson Oliver
- Gunner Oliver
- Harlan Oliver
- Hudson Oliver
- Huxley Oliver
- Jackson Oliver
- Jefferson Oliver
- Jeremiah Oliver
- Jonathan Oliver
- Kaleb Oliver
- Keegan Oliver
- Kyler Oliver
- Layton Oliver
- Leonel Oliver
- Liam Oliver
- Luis Oliver
- Matthew Oliver
- Maverick Oliver
- Nathaniel Oliver
- Noah Oliver
- Norman Oliver
- Patrick Oliver
- Pembroke Oliver
- Princeton Oliver
- Raymond Oliver
- Ryder Oliver
- Samuel Oliver
- Stanley Oliver
- Stephen Oliver
- Theodore Oliver
- Timothy Oliver
- Trenton Oliver
- Vincent Oliver
- Waylon Oliver
- Wesley Oliver
- Winston Oliver
- Zion Oliver
Nicknames for Oliver
- Ollie
- Ollipop
- Olly
Variations of Oliver
- Oilibhéar (Irish)
- Olivér (Hungarian)
- Óliver (Spanish)
- Olivier (French)
- Oliviero (Italian)
- Olívio (Portuguese)
- Oliwer (Polish)
Names Similar to Oliver
- Asher
- Benjamin
- Callum
- Carter
- Dylan
- Edward
- Elliott
- Felix
- Finn
- Henry
- Jasper
- Jude
- Liam
- Leo
- Miles
- Milo
- Noah
- Oscar
- Owen
- Samuel
- Sebastian
- Theo
- Theodore
- William
Sibling Boy Names that go with Oliver
Are you adding another baby boy to your family? We’ve put together a list of some great sibling boy names that go with Oliver.
- Oliver and Alexander
- Oliver and Arthur
- Oliver and Asher
- Oliver and Axel
- Oliver and Beckett
- Oliver and Braxton
- Oliver and Brooks
- Oliver and Caleb
- Oliver and Carter
- Oliver and Charlie
- Oliver and Christian
- Oliver and Dominic
- Oliver and Dylan
- Oliver and Elliott
- Oliver and Ethan
- Oliver and Felix
- Oliver and Greyson
- Oliver and Harry
- Oliver and Henry
- Oliver and Holden
- Oliver and Isaac
- Oliver and Ivan
- Oliver and Jacob
- Oliver and Jeremiah
- Oliver and Joshua
- Oliver and Liam
- Oliver and Lincoln
- Oliver and Mason
- Oliver and Maverick
- Oliver and Noah
- Oliver and Presley
- Oliver and Rhett
- Oliver and Rhys
- Oliver and Riley
- Oliver and Ryan
- Oliver and Samuel
- Oliver and Sebastian
- Oliver and Silas
- Oliver and Theodore
- Oliver and Thomas
- Oliver and Waylon
- Oliver and Wesley
- Oliver and William
- Oliver and Xander
- Oliver and Zion
Sibling Girl Names that go with Oliver
If you’re about to welcome a baby girl to your family and are looking for sibling girl names that go with Oliver, below are our favorites.
- Oliver and Abigail
- Oliver and Alice
- Oliver and Amelia
- Oliver and Beatrice
- Oliver and Brianna
- Oliver and Caitlin
- Oliver and Charlotte
- Oliver and Clara
- Oliver and Daisy
- Oliver and Delilah
- Oliver and Eleanor
- Oliver and Eloise
- Oliver and Emma
- Oliver and Everly
- Oliver and Felicity
- Oliver and Grace
- Oliver and Hazel
- Oliver and Harper
- Oliver and Iris
- Oliver and Ivy
- Oliver and Jade
- Oliver and Julia
- Oliver and Juniper
- Oliver and Kinsley
- Oliver and Kylie
- Oliver and Leilani
- Oliver and Lexi
- Oliver and Lily
- Oliver and Lucy
- Oliver and Mabel
- Oliver and Mackenzie
- Oliver and Natalia
- Oliver and Noelle
- Oliver and Penelope
- Oliver and Remi
- Oliver and Ruby
- Oliver and Ruth
- Oliver and Sage
- Oliver and Sarah
- Oliver and Scarlett
- Oliver and Sophia
- Oliver and Tessa
- Oliver and Violet
- Oliver and Vivienne
- Oliver and Willow
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History of the name Oliver
Oliver became a common medieval name in England. It phased out after the 17th century and became popular again in the 19th century after Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist. During the beginning of the 21st century, Oliver became a top ranking boys name in England and Wales.
According to the Social Security Administration, Oliver was popular in the United States in the early 20th century. It dropped out of the top 100 names in 1904 and continued to gradually decline until 2000 when it started to climb the charts again. Currently, Oliver sits in the 3rd position for most popular boys names of 2021.
Famous People with the Name Oliver
| Oliverius Carafa | Italian Cardinal, papal legate to King Ferdinand of Naples |
| Oliver De Lancey | American merchant, Loyalist politician, and major-general during the American Revolutionary War |
| Oliver De Lancey | British Army officer who took part in the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars |
| Oliver De Lancey | British Army officer who volunteered for the Spanish Legion and died fighting in Spain during the First Carlist War |
| Oliver Belmont | American socialite |
| Oliver Bulleid | British railway and mechanical engineer |
| Oliver Carminow | English politician and Member of Parliament |
| Oliver Churchill | British officer during World War II |
| Oliver Dobbins | American football player |
| Oliver Hardy | American comic actor famous as one half of Laurel and Hardy |
| Oliver Hudson | American actor in CBS series Rules of Engagement |
| Oliver Hughes | American decorated Union Army soldier |
| Oliver Jackson-Cohen | Oliver Jackson-Cohen (born 1986), English actor and model in The Invisible Man |
| Oliver Luck | American professional football player and sports executive |
| Oliver McCall | American heavyweight boxer |
| Oliver Plunkett | Irish Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, last martyr of the Popish Plot |
| Oliver Stone | American film director, screenwriter, and producer. Wrote 1983 remake of Scarface |
Fictional Characters Named Oliver
| Oliver | a locomotive in the Thomas and Friends franchise |
| Oliver Fish | a gay police officer on the American soap opera One Life to Live |
| Oliver Hampton | in the American television series How to Get Away with Murder. |
| Oliver Jones | on the American soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful |
| Oliver Lightload | in the movie Cars |
| Oliver Oken | from Hannah Montana |
| Oliver Queen | DC Comic book hero also known as the Green Arrow |
| Oliver Trask | a controversial minor character from the first season of The O.C. |
| Oliver Twist | the protagonist of Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist |
| Oliver Wendell Douglas | on the American television situation comedy Green Acres |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oliver a popular boys name?
Oliver skyrocketed to the top 10 boy names in 2018 and has continued to rise to the 3rd position as of 2020.
Is Oliver an old fashioned name?
Yes. Oliver was first popular in Medieval England.
Is Oliver a biblical name?
Oliver is derived from the Latin word olivarius, meaning “olive tree planter.” In biblical terms, the olive tree is a symbol of fruitfulness, beauty, and dignity.
Final Thoughts on Middle Names for Oliver
Popular in medieval times, Oliver has grabbed the attention of modern day parents and ranks as the 3rd most popular boys name in 2021.
We hope our list of middle names for Oliver helps you to find the perfect pair!
MORE MIDDLE NAME IDEAS
Now that you’ve seen all the middle name ideas for Oliver, you might want to check out some middle name ideas for these similar names!
- Middle Names for Finn
- Middle Names for Henry
- Middle Names for Miles
- Middle Names for Noah
- Middle Names for Theodore
If you’re looking for more middle name ideas, you can find all our lists in our Middle Names section.
For more baby name ideas and inspiration head over to our Baby Names section.
Krissy lives in California with her family of three that make up “The Hadicks.” With a passion for research and helping others, The Hadicks was developed as a resource for other parents and parents-to-be!