Oliver is a masculine given name of Old French and Medieval British origin. The name has been generally associated with the Latin term olivarius, meaning "olive tree planter", or "olive branch bearer" Other proposed origins include the Germanic names *wulfa- "wolf" and *harja- "army"; the Old Norse Óleifr ; a genuinely West Germanic name, perhaps from ala- "all" and wēra "true" ; the Anglo-Saxon Alfhere; and the Greek name Eleutherios.

Olivia is a feminine given name in the English language. It is derived from Latin oliva, olive. Both Oliva and Olivia were Latinate forms in use in English-speaking countries as early as the 13th century. Olive was in common use as a vernacular form. Though not invented by William Shakespeare, the name was popularized by a character in Twelfth Night.