Olsen

♂ Boy

Pronounced OHL-sun /ˈoʊl.sən/High

Meaning: son of Ole, son of the ancestorMedium

In 30 seconds: Olsen is a Scandinavian patronymic surname meaning son of Ole (son of the ancestor). A clean two-syllable name with Scandinavian heritage, famous through the Olsen twins.

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Origin HighScandinavian

Meaningson of Ole, son of the ancestor

U.S. rank (2025)#2176 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births66 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 491

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

Olsen is a Scandinavian patronymic surname from Ole (Old Norse: ancestor) + son, meaning son of Ole.

Olsen has been used as a given name, particularly in the US, following the fame of actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

Did you know? In Scandinavian naming tradition, -sen and -son suffixes were added to a father's first name — making Olsen literally a living record of the family tree.

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name: Olsen — name etymology referenceUS Social Security Name Database — U.S. popularity data

Variations

OleOleson

Nicknames

OlsOle

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Olsen…

Sven— similar Scandinavian masculine name

Lars— similar Scandinavian masculine name

Kolsen— shares the -en ending

Jensen— shares the -en ending

Colsen— another Scandinavian name

Explore names like Olsen

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Frequently Asked

What does Olsen mean?

Olsen means son of Ole, son of the ancestor.

How do you pronounce Olsen?

Olsen is pronounced OHL-sun (/ˈoʊl.sən/), with 2 syllables.

Is Olsen a boy's name?

Yes, Olsen is used as a boy's name.

How popular is the name Olsen?

Scandinavian patronymic surname; meaning well established.