How Many People Are Named Oliver?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Oliver

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 6,137 living people in the United States currently have the first name Oliver. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 7,142 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #361 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~6,137CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)7,142Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#361U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year1981 (154 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~6,137
Historical Births (SSA)
7,142
All-Time Rank
#361
Historical Peak
1981

Key Insights for Oliver

Estimated Living Bearers
~6,137 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#361
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
1981
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Female
12.5% Male · 87.5% Female
Recent 10-Year Trajectory
Softening (-42%)
2015–2024 SSA birth registration trend
Largest Estimated Population
California
~767 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Oliver

Living Population Model
~6,137

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
7,142

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
5,941

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
41.7 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
1981

Highest annual total: 154 registrations in 1981.

Recent 10-Year Trend
declining (-42%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Between 2015 and 2024, Oliver has experienced a 42% softening in annual newborn registrations from preceding decades.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Oliver (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 1981 (~154 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201042636
201138533
201230030
201328028
201425025
201522022
201620020
201718018
201816016
201915015
202013013
202112012
202210010
2023909
2024909

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
14/100
1950s
37/100
1960s
67/100
1970s
94/100
1980s
98/100
1990s
77/100
2000s
43/100
2010s
17/100
2020s
3/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historically in the U.S., Oliver has been predominantly feminine (87.5% female vs 12.5% male).

Male: 12.5% (~896 births)Female: 87.5% (~6,246 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Oliver

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Oliver in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Oliver appeared 5,941 times, ranking #412 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
5,941 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#412
Census Sex Breakdown
8% M · 92% F

Where Is the Name Oliver Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~767 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~76712.5%
Texas (TX)~5659.2%
Florida (FL)~4176.8%
New York (NY)~3746.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~2454%
Illinois (IL)~2393.9%
Ohio (OH)~2213.6%
Georgia (GA)~2033.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 6,137 people named Oliver are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 41.7 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Oliver: 41.7 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

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Head-to-Head Comparisons for Oliver

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Frequently Asked Questions About Oliver

How many people in the U.S. are named Oliver?

Approximately 6,137 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Oliver. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 7,142 birth applications for Oliver between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Oliver?

Oliver ranks #361 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Oliver comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Oliver most popular in America?

The name Oliver reached its peak historical popularity in 1981, when 154 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Oliver?

Oliver has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Oliver?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historically in the U.S., Oliver has been predominantly feminine (87.5% female vs 12.5% male).

Where is the name Oliver most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Oliver resides in California, with approximately 767 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Oliver in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Oliver appeared 5,941 times in census returns, ranking #412 in official 2020 returns.

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