Olivia

plural Olivias · alternative modern Alivia · alternative modern Olyvia

1. countableuncountableA female given name from Latin.

   O! when mine eyes did see Olivia first / Methought she purg’d the air of pestilence.

   1601, William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, act I, scene 1

   3 more examples

   I intended to call her after Aunt Grizel, but my wife who, during pregnancy, had been reading romances, insisted upon her being called Olivia. In less than another year we had another daughter, and now I was determined that Grizel should be her name; but a rich relation taking a fancy to stand godmother, the girl was, by her directions, called Sophia, so that we had two romantic names in the family, but I solemnly protest I had no hand in it.

   1766, Oliver Goldsmith, The Vicar of Wakefield

   ‘Olivia, that's a fine posh name for Castlebay,’ he said approvingly. ‘Ah, they're sick of these Davids and Clares and Gerrys, the dull old names,’ Clare laughed. ‘I hope they won't call her Olly,’ David said. ‘Make your own nickname then,’ Gerry said. ‘Livy?’ Clare suggested. ‘Liffey even?’ Gerry said.

   1985, Maeve Binchy, Echoes, Arrow Books, published 2006, →ISBN, page 404

   Olivia Nuzzi has parted ways with New York magazine, the publication said Monday, after the star Washington correspondent was placed on leave last month over a previously undisclosed “personal relationship” with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

   2024 October 21, Liam Reilly and Hadas Gold, “Olivia Nuzzi is out at New York magazine over undisclosed relationship with RFK”, in CNN

2. countableuncountableA city, the county seat of Renville County, Minnesota, United States, named for a female station agent named Olive.
3. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in North Carolina, United States; named for tobacco businessman W. J. Olive.