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Name Lineage

    The first name Ole

    A boy’s name from Danish.

    1 syllable Male

    Meaning and origin

    Danish origin

    Borrowed from Danish Ole.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Ole last appeared in the official list in 2022, given to 3 boys. It peaked in 2008, with 21 births (#1,156).

    01530 1996200020052010201520202025
    190
    babies named Ole, 1996–2025
    #4,789
    rank in 2022
    2008
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Ole with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Ole at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 21 boys born in the United States were named Ole, the 4,820th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1881, when 42 were.

    02550 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    2,125
    babies named Ole since 1880
    #4,820
    rank in 2025
    1881
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Ole

    52 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Ole Rømer
      Danish astronomer (*1644 – †1710)
    • Ole Kirk Christiansen
      Danish businessman (1891-1958)
    • Ole Nydahl
      Danish lama, 1941–2026
    • Ole Worm
      Danish scientist (1588–1654)
    • Ole Bischof
      German judoka, born 1979
    • Ole Beich
      Danish musician, 1955–1991
    • Ole Madsen
      Danish footballer (1934-2006)
    • Ole Bornedal
      Danish film director, born 1959
    • Ole Ritter
      Danish racing cyclist, born 1941
    • Ole Qvist
      Danish footballer, born 1950
    • Ole Rasmussen
      Danish footballer, born 1952
    • Ole Borch
      Danish scientist (1626-1690)

    Questions

    What does the name Ole mean?
    Borrowed from Danish Ole.
    What is the origin of the name Ole?
    Borrowed from Danish Ole.
    How popular is the name Ole?
    In 2022, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Ole, ranking 4,789th. Its peak was 2008, with 21 births.
    Is Ole a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 2,125 US babies named Ole since 1880 were boys.
    When was Ole most popular?
    1881 in the United States, when 42 babies were named Ole, its highest rank at 242nd.