| Olivia | Ava | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Olive tree | Of debated origin; often “life” or “bird” |
| Origin | Latin | Latin |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | oh-LIV-ee-uh | AY-vuh |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2014 (19,840) | 2007 (18,053) |
| In 2025 | 13,544 | 7,732 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Olivia | Ava |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 95,853 | 63,350 |
| 2010s | 184,561 | 155,879 |
| 2000s | 156,054 | 104,539 |
| 1990s | 75,913 | 4,207 |
| 1980s | 14,060 | 1,416 |
| 1970s | 7,846 | 1,319 |
| 1960s | 4,016 | 2,342 |
| 1950s | 6,100 | 4,237 |
| 1940s | 7,201 | 1,346 |
| 1930s | 3,922 | 1,180 |
| 1920s | 4,982 | 1,590 |
| 1910s | 3,545 | 1,401 |
| 1900s | 1,575 | 533 |
| 1890s | 1,099 | 479 |
| 1880s | 618 | 279 |
Olivia derives from the Latin oliva, “olive tree,” a symbol of peace. Shakespeare popularised it as a character name in Twelfth Night.
A short, much-loved name whose origin is debated — linked variously to “life” (via Eve), to a Germanic root, and to the Latin avis, “bird.”
Olivia is more popular than Ava today: about 13,544 US babies were given the name Olivia in 2025, compared with 7,732 named Ava.
Olivia means Olive tree (Latin origin), while Ava means Of debated origin; often “life” or “bird” (Latin origin).
In US records, Olivia first appears in 1880 and Ava in 1880, so Olivia has the longer recorded history.