The baby name Olav is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced English: OH-lav (/ˈoʊlɑv/); Norwegian/Swedish: OO-lahv (/ˈuːlɑv/ or /ˈoːlɑv/).
Olav is Norse, Scandinavian in Origin.
The baby name Olav is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced English: OH-lav (/ˈoʊlɑv/); Norwegian/Swedish: OO-lahv (/ˈuːlɑv/ or /ˈoːlɑv/).
Olav is Norse, Scandinavian in Origin.
Olav is the standard Norwegian form of the Old Norse name Óláfr, built from Proto-Norse elements anu “ancestor, forefather” and leifr “heir, descendant; relic,” giving the sense “relic of the ancestors” or “ancestral heir.” In modern Norwegian, Olav and Olaf both appear, with Olav favored in royal and formal contexts.
The name carries strong Scandinavian prestige: borne by multiple Norwegian kings, most famously St. Olav (Olaf II Haraldsson), the nation’s patron saint, and by 20th‑century King Olav V - associations that have sustained its use and periodic revivals in Norway. Variants include Olaf (Norwegian/Danish/English), Olof (Swedish), Ólafur (Icelandic), and Olavi (Finnish). Medieval Gaelic forms Amlaíb/Amhlaoibh yielded Anglicized Aulay, while English history preserves Olave and Anlaf. Common short forms are Ole, Ola, and Olle. Across the Nordic world, the name’s spellings shift but its venerable meaning endures.
| Olav V of Norway Olav V of Norway was the King of Norway from 1957 until his death in 1991. He is most famous for his leadership during a period of modernization and his efforts to maintain the monarchy's relevance in a changing society. Known for his down-to-earth style, Olav was a beloved figure in Norway. |
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | Boys | 2025 | #10 | 285 | 444 |
| EE | Boys | 0 | #116 | 10 | 2,087 |
| CY | Boys | 0 | #131 | 1 | 3,473 |
| ID | Boys | 0 | #135 | 1 | 4,130 |
| BW | Girls | 0 | #151 | 1 | 4,216 |
| HU | Boys | 0 | #174 | 1 | 3,954 |
| Sweden | Boys | 2022 | #181 | 2 | 1,509 |
| DK | 0 | #201 | 6 | 5,198 | |
| PL | 0 | #212 | 1 | 2,600 | |
| BG | Boys | 0 | #220 | 1 | 3,850 |
| LU | Boys | 0 | #220 | 1 | 4,970 |
| NA | Boys | 0 | #253 | 1 | 6,830 |
| DK | Boys | 0 | #279 | 47 | 7,401 |
| SG | 0 | #282 | 1 | 11,010 | |
| CZ | Boys | 0 | #305 | 1 | 6,530 |
| PE | 0 | #329 | 1 | 6,350 | |
| CN | Boys | 0 | #331 | 1 | 9,639 |
| PL | Boys | 0 | #339 | 2 | 6,459 |
| NL | 0 | #369 | 23 | 2,481 | |
| Finland | Boys | 0 | #402 | 26 | 2,041 |
| Germany | 0 | #427 | 11 | 2,542 | |
| CL | 0 | #433 | 2 | 6,867 | |
| ZA | 0 | #473 | 2 | 14,421 | |
| GT | Boys | 0 | #499 | 1 | 7,625 |
| IQ | Girls | 0 | #525 | 1 | 11,303 |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #526 | 1 | 12,621 |
| IR | Boys | 0 | #564 | 2 | 10,162 |
| Finland | Boys | 2026 | #591 | 92 | 3,552 |
| NL | Boys | 0 | #593 | 390 | 5,873 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #645 | 1 | 11,648 |
| CL | Boys | 0 | #696 | 5 | 13,390 |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #738 | 2 | 17,960 |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #785 | 1 | 12,213 |
| Germany | Boys | 0 | #799 | 154 | 5,697 |
| United States | Boys | 2022 | #904 | 5 | 7,226 |
| OM | Boys | 0 | #915 | 4 | 17,948 |
| Spain | Boys | 0 | #920 | 11 | 5,610 |
| PE | Boys | 0 | #926 | 1 | 14,506 |
| CO | Boys | 0 | #979 | 3 | 15,656 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #1,010 | 1 | 14,861 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #1,033 | 1 | 16,355 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,143 | 1 | 22,615 |
| MA | 0 | #1,197 | 3 | 20,986 | |
| TR | 0 | #1,253 | 2 | 19,440 | |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,270 | 3 | 25,619 |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,462 | 10 | 10,046 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,691 | 1 | 28,008 |
Olav is popular in 37 countries — most recent births per country:
Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!