Fun Facts About the Name Olivera
- 19 babies named Olivera: U.S. records list 19 babies given the name Olivera from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Olivera Mean?
Olivera is the feminine form of Oliver, the name that reached western Europe through Old French Olivier. The derivation most commonly given traces Olivier to Latin olivarius, "of the olive tree," from oliva, "olive." The literal sense is therefore "olive tree" or "olive grower." Spanish and Portuguese formed Olivero and Oliveira from the same word for the olive, and Olivera is used as a feminine given name and as a family name in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions.
A second, competing explanation derives the name from a Germanic compound, often reconstructed as *Alfhar, from elements meaning "elf" and "army." That proposal is offered for the Germanic stock behind some forms of the name, but it is not settled, and the Latin "olive" derivation is the one usually cited. In Serbian, Croatian, Slovene, and Macedonian use, Olivera is the feminine counterpart of Oliver and carries the same general sense.
Olivera Name History & Origins
The masculine name is recorded in medieval Latin as Oliverus, and it spread through France, Iberia, and the German lands during the Middle Ages. Old French Olivier is the name of Roland's companion in the Chanson de Roland, the twelfth-century French epic; the poem kept the name familiar, though it was already in use before the poem was written.
The feminine Olivera developed from this stock in two settings. In Spain and Portugal it is the feminine of Olivero and is tied to the ordinary word for the olive tree; the related Portuguese surname is Oliveira. In the Balkans, Olivera is a traditional female given name. Its best-known early bearer is Olivera Lazarević (about 1372 to after 1444), daughter of Prince Lazar of Serbia and wife of the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I, who later took monastic vows under the name Jevrosima.
Olivera also functions as a surname in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, alongside the masculine given name from which it derives. Other forms of the same name family include French Olivier, Spanish and Portuguese Olivero, and Portuguese Oliveira.
How Popular is the Name Olivera?
Olivera has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1976. Its best rank was #7,077 in 1976.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #14,481 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1976 | #7,077 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #7,842 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Olivera Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are patient, persevering and strong willed. You are a good student, absorbing knowledge easily and retaining it well. You are either a saint or a sinner. You tend to hold things inside and suffer in silence. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Olivera's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Olivera's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.