Ole - Name Meaning and Popularity -

Meaning of Ole

Ole, pronounced OH-lee (/oʊˈli/), is a masculine appellation etymologically derived from the Old Norse Óláfr, itself a compound of the elements anu (“ancestor”) and leifr (“heir” or “descendant”). Conceived as a contracted form of Olaf, Ole has carried connotations of dynastic legitimacy and ancestral continuity since its association with medieval Norwegian monarchs and the veneration of Saint Olaf II. In an Anglo-American context, the name functions as a precise cultural marker of Northern European heritage, prized for its phonetic transparency and semantic depth. According to recent Social Security Administration statistics, Ole has retained a modest yet stable presence among male newborns in the United States—hovering near the 900th rank in annual registries—reflecting its adoption by families seeking a concise, historically resonant designation.