Olav
Meaning of Olav
The name Olav is a distinguished male name of Norwegian origin, pronounced as OH-lahv (/'oːləv/). It is closely associated with the Old Norse name Óláfr, meaning "ancestor's relic" or "heirloom." The name carries historical significance in Norway, notably borne by several kings, including Saint Olav (Olaf II Haraldsson), the patron saint of Norway. This regal heritage lends the name an air of nobility and tradition. A popular variation of Olav is Olaf, which shares similar roots and cultural connotations. In the United States, Olav is quite rare; it has appeared sporadically in baby name records over the past century, with notable occurrences in 1920, 1957, and most recently in 2022 when it ranked 12,313th with only five newborns given this unique name. Despite its rarity outside Scandinavia, Olav remains a strong choice for parents seeking a name with deep historical roots and a touch of Scandinavian charm.
Pronunciation
Norwegian
- Pronunced as OH-lahv (/'oːləv/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Olav
| Olav Engelbrektsson, the 28th Archbishop of Norway, was also a Regent and a prominent member of the Norwegian nobility before fleeing to exile in 1537. |
| Olav Duun, a prominent Norwegian fiction writer, narrowly missed out on the Nobel Prize in Literature despite being nominated twenty-four times in fourteen years. |
| Olav Bjaaland was a Norwegian ski champion and polar explorer who was part of the first group to reach the South Pole in 1911. |
| Olav Thon is a prominent Norwegian real estate developer and the founder of Norway's largest private real estate company, the Olav Thon Group, which includes 450 properties and 60 hotels. |
| Olav Aukrust was a Norwegian poet and teacher known for popularizing the use of Nynorsk as a literary language and his famous poem Himmelvarden (1916). |
| Olav Werner was a renowned Norwegian singer and recording artist who performed as a soloist in various NRK programs and released numerous records. |
| Olav Johannes Strøm was a pioneering Norwegian trade union leader. |
| Olav Magnusson of Norway - Olav Magnusson, the son of King Magnus Barefoot and Sigrid, was the king of Norway from 1103 to 1115. |
