Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Olson

Olson

♂ Boy

Pronounced OHL-sən /ˈoʊl.sən/High

Meaning: Scandinavian patronymic surname, 'son of Ole' — Ole descending from Olaf, 'ancestor's descendant'High

In 30 seconds: A Minnesota handshake of a name: Olson — 'son of Ole' — turns the upper Midwest's favorite surname into a first name with lutefisk-supper warmth and Viking paperwork.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighScandinavian
MeaningScandinavian patronymic surname, 'son of Ole' — Ole descending from Olaf, 'ancestor's descendant'
U.S. rank (2025)#3732 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births30 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 343

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419272025

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

Olson is the Scandinavian-American patronymic 'son of Ole', Ole being the homely Norwegian form of Olaf — Old Norse Anleifr, 'ancestor's descendant', a sainted king's name. Emigration stamped Olson across the upper Midwest, where it remains shorthand for Norwegian-American heritage.

As a first name it joins the surname-name current with regional pride attached. It is very rare — a name that brings a casserole and shovels your driveway.

Did you know? Olaf, the ancestor inside Olson, means roughly 'descendant of the ancestor' — making Olson, technically, the son of the descendant of the ancestor. Genealogy's favorite riddle.
Overall data confidence 88%
Dictionary of American Family Names — Olson — patronymic origin

Variations

OlsenOhlson

Nicknames

OleSonny

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Olson…

Anders— a fellow Scandinavian staple crossing to first-name use
Nelson— the rhyming patronymic with its own first-name history
Lars— the compact Nordic classic companion
Soren— the Danish favorite rising in America

Explore names like Olson

By themeheritagesurname-namescandinavian

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Olson mean?

Olson is a Scandinavian patronymic meaning 'son of Ole', Ole descending from Olaf.

How do you pronounce Olson?

It's said OHL-sən /ˈoʊl.sən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Olson a boy or girl name?

Olson is a boy's name.

How popular is Olson?

Olson is a very rare first name in the U.S.

💬 Ask Nia