Olney

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Olney

Pronounced OHL-nee /ˈoʊl.ni/Medium

Meaning: Olney is an English place-name and surname, traced to Old English elements meaning 'Olla's island' or 'Olla's clearing', from a personal name plus eg ('island') or leah ('clearing'). Taken up as a given name, it follows the American habit of turning map and family names into first names.Low

In 30 seconds: Olney is an English place-name and surname meaning 'Olla's island or clearing'. It was a rare given name a century ago (said OHL-nee).

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowEnglish

MeaningOlney is an English place-name and surname, traced to Old English elements meaning 'Olla's island' or 'Olla's clearing', from a personal name plus eg ('island') or leah ('clearing'). Taken up as a given name, it follows the American habit of turning map and family names into first names.

U.S. rank (1963)#4458 ↘ Falling

1963 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1919

Total births (all-time)≈ 196

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

Olney reflects an English place-name and surname adopted as a first name in the United States, most often in the surname-name style of the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was always rare, given to only a couple dozen boys a year.

A man named Olney would belong to a grandfather or great-grandfather generation, and the name has a soft, understated sound distinct from the more common -ley surname-names. It offers no set nickname, working as a two-beat name in full.

Did you know? The English town of Olney, in Buckinghamshire, is famous as the home of the hymn-writer John Newton, tying the name to a real, historic place.

Overall data confidence 45%

References — Olney — English place-name/surname 'Olla's island/clearing'; given-name use

Variations

OllyOlnie

Nicknames

Ollie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Olney…

Olin— a like short vintage Ol- boy's name

Delaney— a similar -ney surname-name

Kelsey— another -ey surname-name in feel

Orley— a fellow English choice

Oxley— the same surname-name feel

Explore names like Olney

By themerare vintage surname-name place-name

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Olney mean?

It is an English place-name and surname, traced to Old English for 'Olla's island or clearing'.

How do you pronounce Olney?

It's said OHL-nee /ˈoʊl.ni/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Olney a boy or girl name?

Olney is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Olney?

It was always rare, an early-twentieth-century name given to only a couple dozen boys a year.