Gender: Masculine
Origin: Old Norse
Meaning: “ancestor’s descendant.”
(OH-lahf)
The name is derived from the Old Norse Áleifr, which is composed of the elements, anu meaning, “ancestor” and leifr meaning, “heir; descendant.”
The name was extremely common throughout Scandinavia in the early Middle Ages, and its popularity was sparked due to the fame of King Olaf II, who was canonized a saint. He is believed to be responsible for Norway’s conversion to Christianity. He is still regarded as a sort of national folk hero and is considered the patron saint of Norway.
The name was borne by a few other Norwegian kings.
Currently, its offshoot of Ola, is the 65th most popular male name in Norway, (2009). His other forms are ranked as follows:
- Olav # 77 (Norway, 2009)
- Ole # 33 (Norway, 2009)
- Olle # 35 (Sweden, 2009)
Other forms of the name include:
- Olaf (Danish/German/Polish/Norwegian/Swedish)
- Olai/Olaj (Danish/Norwegian)
- Olau (Danish)
- Olav (Danish/Norwegian)
- Oluf (Danish)
- Lávus (Faroese)
- Ólavur (Faroese)
- Olev (Estonian)
- Olavi (Finnish/Estonian)
- Olli (Finnish)
- Oola (Finnish)
- Uolevi (Finnish)
- Ólafur (Icelandic)
- Óli (Icelandic)
- Amhlaoibh (Irish-Gaelic)
- Olaus/Olavus (Latin)
- Olafs/Olavs (Latvian)
- Ulafs (Latvian)
- Ola (Norwegian/Swedish)
- Olavius/Olavus (Norwegian)
- Ole (Norwegian/Swedish)
- Áleifr/Óláfr (Old Norse)
- Olavo (Portuguese)
- Olá (Sami)
- Olen (Sami)
- Olet (Sami)
- Ovlá/Ovllá (Sami)
- Ovlin (Sami)
- Amhlaidh (Scots-Gaelic)
- Aulay (Scottish)
- Olagus (Swedish)
- Olle (Swedish)
- Olof (Swedish)
- Olov (Swedish)
Feminine forms include:
- Olava (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
- Olea (Danish/Norwegian)
- Oluffa/Olufine (Danish/Norwegian/Swedish)
- Óluva (Faroese)
- Óla (Icelandic)
- Ólafía (Icelandic)
- Ólafína (Icelandic)
- Ólavía (Icelandic)
- Lava (Norwegian)
- Lavine (Norwegian)
- Olafine (Norwegian)
- Olave (Norwegian)
- Olavia (Norwegian)
- Olavine/Olevine (Norwegian)
- Olemine (Norwegian)
- Oletta/Olette (Norwegian)
- Olia (Norwegian)
- Olsine (Norwegian)
- Olávia (Portuguese)
- Olova/Oluva (Swedish)
Common Finnish diminutives are Laaku, Lavi, Olkki, Olkku, Uokke and Uokki.
The designated name-days are February 15 and July 29.
Sources