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Ola as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Ola

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The baby name Ola is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced {'context': 'English common', 'respelling': 'OH-lə', 'ipa': '/ˈoʊlə/'},{'context': 'Polish', 'respelling': 'OH-la', 'ipa': '/ˈɔla/'},{'context': 'Scandinavian (Norwegian/Swedish)', 'respelling': 'OO-la', 'ipa': '/ˈuːlɑ/'},{'context': 'Arabic', 'respelling': 'OO-lah / U-la', 'ipa': '/ʕuːla/ (approx.)'},{'context': 'Yoruba/Nigerian', 'respelling': 'OH-lah', 'ipa': '/ˈɔla/ (approx.)'}.

Ola is Arabic, Norse, Polish, Yoruba in Origin.

Gender: Unisex
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Arabic, Norse, Polish, Yoruba
Pronunciation: {'context': 'English common', 'respelling': 'OH-lə', 'ipa': '/ˈoʊlə/'},{'context': 'Polish', 'respelling': 'OH-la', 'ipa': '/ˈɔla/'},{'context': 'Scandinavian (Norwegian/Swedish)', 'respelling': 'OO-la', 'ipa': '/ˈuːlɑ/'},{'context': 'Arabic', 'respelling': 'OO-lah / U-la', 'ipa': '/ʕuːla/ (approx.)'},{'context': 'Yoruba/Nigerian', 'respelling': 'OH-lah', 'ipa': '/ˈɔla/ (approx.)'}

What is the meaning of the name Ola ?

The baby name Ola is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced {'context': 'English common', 'respelling': 'OH-lə', 'ipa': '/ˈoʊlə/'},{'context': 'Polish', 'respelling': 'OH-la', 'ipa': '/ˈɔla/'},{'context': 'Scandinavian (Norwegian/Swedish)', 'respelling': 'OO-la', 'ipa': '/ˈuːlɑ/'},{'context': 'Arabic', 'respelling': 'OO-lah / U-la', 'ipa': '/ʕuːla/ (approx.)'},{'context': 'Yoruba/Nigerian', 'respelling': 'OH-lah', 'ipa': '/ˈɔla/ (approx.)'}.

Ola is Arabic, Norse, Polish, Yoruba in Origin.

Ola is a cross‑cultural given name. In Scandinavia it is a masculine short form of Olav/Olaf, from Old Norse Óláfr (anu “ancestor” + leifr “heir, descendant”). It became widely used in Norway and Sweden, peaking in the 18th–19th centuries. Related forms include Ole (Danish/Norwegian) and Olle (Swedish), with cognates Olaf and Olav.

In Slavic contexts, especially Poland, Ola is a diminutive of Aleksandra and also a standalone feminine name. In Arabic, Ola (ʿUlā) is feminine and means “lofty; the highest, exalted.” In Yoruba, Ọlá is unisex, denoting “honor, prestige, wealth,” used independently and in compounds like Olamide or Olabisi. Variants and near‑equivalents include Ula, Alexandra/Aleksandra, and the Scandinavian Olav/Olaf line.

Ola has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Ola

Ola Rapace Actor · Born 1971 · Sweden Ola Rapace is a Swedish actor best known for playing Patrice in the James Bond film Skyfall. He was born Sonny Ola Rapace Jawo, originally named Pär Ola Norell, on 3 December 1971. Ola Salo Actor · Born 1977 · Sweden Ola Salo is best known as the lead singer of the Swedish glam rock band The Ark. He is a Swedish rock musician, and he became especially well known through songs like "It Takes a Fool to Remain Sane," "Calleth You, Cometh I," and "The Worrying Kind." Ola Ray Actor|musician · Born 1960 · United States Ola Ray is best known for playing Michael Jackson’s girlfriend in the iconic “Thriller” music video. She is an American actress and model born on August 26, 1960.
Ola Brunkert Musician · Born 1946 · Sweden Ola Brunkert was a Swedish musician best known as the drummer for the pop group ABBA. He played on many of their hit songs, including 'Dancing Queen' and 'Mamma Mia', contributing to their distinctive sound.

Ola – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2020 #1 — 882
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
PS Girls 0 #38 1,618 10,981
JO Girls 0 #40 1,570 7,570
PL Girls 0 #42 9,081 5,096
SD Girls 0 #42 1,210 7,678
SY 0 #43 5,704 11,684
AL 0 #45 31 2,372
AL Girls 0 #48 298 4,141
PL 0 #49 635 2,600
Norway Boys 2025 #53 113 444
EG Girls 0 #62 19,405 14,742
JO 0 #66 77 2,158
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
SD 0 #67 34 2,130
AZ Girls 0 #75 1 1,051
JP 0 #75 3 4,057
QA 0 #83 18 7,011
CN 0 #86 1 3,857
LT 0 #88 1 949
NG 0 #89 206 5,926
KW 0 #90 27 5,216
EG 0 #91 987 6,387
IQ Girls 0 #91 934 11,303
MD Girls 0 #92 1 865
KZ 0 #94 1 1,452
IQ 0 #99 31 3,533
ID Girls 0 #102 1 3,319
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
GE Girls 0 #108 1 1,564
NG Boys 0 #108 5,031 16,906
BN Girls 0 #112 3 5,459
IL Girls 0 #113 1,271 11,648
OM 0 #115 7 6,215
EC 0 #121 1 2,502
SA Girls 0 #121 1,958 25,931
EE Boys 0 #124 2 2,087
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
QA Girls 0 #125 208 15,378
PS 0 #126 94 5,692
Switzerland Girls 2024 #133 3 1,786
AE 0 #135 43 10,220
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
MT Girls 0 #148 6 3,773
BW Boys 0 #150 5 4,685
BW Girls 0 #151 1 4,216
LT Boys 0 #151 1 2,166
LB 0 #160 1,000 13,263
CR 0 #164 2 5,526
SI Girls 0 #169 9 2,769
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
Sweden Boys 2022 #177 6 1,509
MT Boys 0 #178 2 4,064
PR Boys 0 #178 1 2,508
SA 0 #178 118 10,560
RU 0 #179 11 3,641
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
UY 0 #182 1 2,477
CZ 0 #183 4 3,154
LU Girls 0 #186 5 4,850
AE Girls 0 #188 431 20,968
IL 0 #191 86 6,291
DK 0 #200 7 5,198
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
NG Girls 0 #206 1,506 15,093
SI Boys 0 #211 1 3,402
BG Boys 0 #220 1 3,850
HU Girls 0 #224 2 3,308
IR 0 #227 5 4,221
BG Girls 0 #229 3 3,559
GR Girls 0 #232 11 6,293
MO Boys 0 #233 2 5,842
NA Girls 0 #234 4 7,146
YE 0 #237 154 8,639
GH 0 #245 4 5,396
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
JP Girls 0 #249 3 6,592
NA Boys 0 #252 2 6,830
OM Girls 0 #254 143 15,987
TW Boys 0 #255 2 7,111
EC Girls 0 #258 1 3,650
RU Girls 0 #264 295 11,913
CZ Girls 0 #267 76 5,378
GR Boys 0 #273 1 6,912
PL Boys 0 #275 61 6,459
KZ Boys 0 #276 14 6,578
AL Boys 0 #279 20 5,122
Canada Girls 2024 #281 5 2,795
SG 0 #281 2 11,010
DK Girls 0 #283 34 7,429
TW Girls 0 #284 6 8,139
HR Girls 0 #289 6 3,687
KZ Girls 0 #292 29 5,862
JM Boys 0 #293 1 6,876
KW Girls 0 #294 230 19,177
JP Boys 0 #303 1 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #304 2 6,530
DK Boys 0 #308 18 7,401
GH Boys 0 #328 18 8,138
PE 0 #329 1 6,350
PT Boys 0 #329 39 7,951
CN Boys 0 #331 1 9,639
GH Girls 0 #332 6 6,973
GT 0 #332 7 5,948
MY 0 #351 4 12,352
JO Boys 0 #352 26 7,057
CN Girls 0 #354 6 8,829
MU Girls 0 #355 8 8,539
HK 0 #356 2 8,483
BR 0 #360 1 5,969
LY 0 #360 181 12,703
MU Boys 0 #366 4 8,477
Finland Boys 0 #374 54 2,041
NL 0 #380 12 2,481
Finland Girls 0 #382 10 1,368
France Girls 2017 #399 6 3,248
Austria Girls 0 #402 19 1,885
PH Boys 0 #402 7 11,440
BO 0 #403 6 6,868
UY Boys 0 #408 6 5,922
SD Boys 0 #412 34 10,523
Germany 0 #419 19 2,542
PH Girls 0 #424 6 13,098
CL 0 #433 2 6,867
PT Girls 0 #433 19 7,952
Spain 0 #442 11 2,326
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
IR Girls 0 #452 79 8,334
AR Boys 0 #455 13 7,628
ZA 0 #468 7 14,421
BH 0 #472 82 17,937
Finland Boys 2026 #490 214 3,552
GT Boys 0 #495 5 7,625
RU Boys 0 #496 10 12,621
PA Boys 0 #501 5 9,305
CR Boys 0 #506 5 10,188
CO 0 #510 1 7,768
PA Girls 0 #510 9 9,861
PS Boys 0 #511 38 10,655
EG Boys 0 #523 421 15,035
UY Girls 0 #532 5 6,731
GT Girls 0 #536 6 7,500
HK Boys 0 #551 7 12,905
CM Girls 0 #556 5 11,671
IR Boys 0 #563 3 10,162
CR Girls 0 #569 5 11,342
CM Boys 0 #570 6 12,054
IL Boys 0 #576 32 10,983
Germany Girls 0 #589 266 4,949
BD Boys 0 #604 2 10,045
CL Boys 0 #607 59 13,390
BO Boys 0 #620 3 9,244
AR Girls 0 #624 7 8,289
SG Girls 0 #627 6 18,916
IQ Boys 0 #638 30 13,071
HK Girls 0 #642 9 16,104
BO Girls 0 #647 5 9,488
IN Girls 0 #654 1 13,121
IT 0 #666 49 4,183
QA Boys 0 #690 18 18,093
NL Girls 0 #692 270 5,933
Finland Girls 2026 #723 16 3,895
TN 0 #728 102 13,765
SG Boys 0 #737 3 17,960
BR Boys 0 #779 7 12,213
KW Boys 0 #799 8 18,755
CL Girls 0 #810 42 14,098
Spain Boys 0 #842 89 5,610
CO Boys 0 #851 70 15,656
PE Boys 0 #859 20 14,506
Spain Girls 0 #895 89 5,561
United States Girls 2024 #901 16 8,487
TR 0 #907 322 19,440
OM Boys 0 #912 7 17,948
NL Boys 0 #919 33 5,873
Germany Boys 0 #925 28 5,697
PE Girls 0 #933 11 14,861
MA 0 #940 189 20,986
MY Girls 0 #941 54 24,821
MX Boys 0 #952 31 16,355
BR Girls 0 #989 4 12,708
IT Girls 0 #998 473 9,415
IN Boys 0 #1,033 7 16,750
CO Girls 0 #1,039 40 16,140
AE Boys 0 #1,051 42 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,061 51 25,439
DZ 0 #1,077 100 20,130
ZA Boys 0 #1,084 95 25,619
ZA Girls 0 #1,105 37 25,928
MX Girls 0 #1,146 38 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,374 98 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,547 68 28,008

Ola is popular in 86 countries — most recent births per country:

Norway
Sweden
United States
Canada
Switzerland

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Ola

Ola is a unisex name, given to both boys and girls.
Ola is a 2 syllable name, pronounced {'context': 'English common', 'respelling': 'OH-lə', 'ipa': '/ˈoʊlə/'},{'context': 'Polish', 'respelling': 'OH-la', 'ipa': '/ˈɔla/'},{'context': 'Scandinavian (Norwegian/Swedish)', 'respelling': 'OO-la', 'ipa': '/ˈuːlɑ/'},{'context': 'Arabic', 'respelling': 'OO-lah / U-la', 'ipa': '/ʕuːla/ (approx.)'},{'context': 'Yoruba/Nigerian', 'respelling': 'OH-lah', 'ipa': '/ˈɔla/ (approx.)'}.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Olaf, Olav, Olaus, Olof, Olle and Olaa.
Across languages, Ola has these equivalents: 'Polish/Aleksandra (full form), "Yoruba/wealth-honor (related names with the element 'Ola').
Yes, very popular — Ola ranked #1 in Ireland in 2020, and appears in official birth registries across 9 countries.
Ola ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2020).
Yes — 4 notable people named Ola are in our database, including Ola Rapace (Actor), Ola Salo (Actor), Ola Ray (Actor|musician).