Ole

♂ Boy

Pronounced OH-leh /ˈoʊ.lɛ/Medium

Meaning: Scandinavian form of Olaf/Olav — from Old Norse Anleifr, 'ancestor's descendant; heir, relic'Medium

In 30 seconds: Ancestor's heir: Ole is the Scandinavian Olaf — 'ancestor's descendant'. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'OH-leh').

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Origin MediumNorse, Scandinavian

MeaningScandinavian form of Olaf/Olav — from Old Norse Anleifr, 'ancestor's descendant; heir, relic'

U.S. rank (2025)#4820 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births21 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1881

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,122

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ole is a Scandinavian form of Olaf/Olav — from Old Norse Anleifr, 'ancestor's descendant; heir, relic' (anu, 'ancestor', plus leifr, 'descendant'). A crisp, classic name across Norway, Denmark, and Sweden (said 'OH-leh').

In the U.S. it appears in Scandinavian families. Rare, ancestor's-descendant at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Olaf means 'ancestor's descendant; heir' (Old Norse Anleifr) — Ole is its crisp Scandinavian short form (skier Ole Einar Bjorndalen; said 'OH-leh').

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name — Ole — etymology

Variations

OlafOlavOlle

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Ole…

Lars— a companion Scandinavian short name

Sven— another Scandinavian boys' name

Olsen— shares Ole's Scandinavian roots

Olson— a similarly popular pick

Olan— another Scandinavian name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ole mean?

Ole is the Scandinavian Olaf — Old Norse 'ancestor's descendant; heir'.

How do you pronounce Ole?

It's said OH-leh /ˈoʊ.lɛ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ole a boy or girl name?

Ole is a boy's name.

How popular is Ole?

Ole is a rare name in the U.S.