| Patrick | Oliver | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Nobleman | Olive tree |
| Origin | Latin | Latin |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | PAT-rik | OL-iv-er |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1964 (14,692) | 2024 (15,396) |
| In 2025 | 1,495 | 14,939 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Patrick | Oliver |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 10,101 | 89,293 |
| 2010s | 25,312 | 98,160 |
| 2000s | 44,782 | 20,935 |
| 1990s | 92,931 | 6,570 |
| 1980s | 111,408 | 4,153 |
| 1970s | 91,240 | 3,732 |
| 1960s | 122,717 | 3,340 |
| 1950s | 96,851 | 4,987 |
| 1940s | 48,619 | 6,057 |
| 1930s | 18,390 | 6,709 |
| 1920s | 11,460 | 10,900 |
| 1910s | 6,120 | 8,657 |
| 1900s | 2,141 | 2,088 |
| 1890s | 2,233 | 2,035 |
| 1880s | 2,285 | 2,287 |
Patrick comes from the Latin patricius, “nobleman, patrician.” St Patrick, the 5th-century missionary, is the patron saint of Ireland, and the name is deeply Irish.
Oliver is usually traced to the Latin oliva, “olive tree” — a long-standing symbol of peace — though some scholars link it to the Norse Áleifr (an ancestor of Olaf).
Oliver is more popular than Patrick today: about 14,939 US babies were given the name Oliver in 2025, compared with 1,495 named Patrick.
Patrick means Nobleman (Latin origin), while Oliver means Olive tree (Latin origin).
In US records, Patrick first appears in 1880 and Oliver in 1880, so Patrick has the longer recorded history.