Ole
A male given name from Danish.
Every Ole since 1880 — 2,125 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ole
Ole is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,820 in 2025 with 21 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 2,125 American babies have been named Ole. Its peak came in 1881, when 42 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the late 1800s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ole stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ole year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | #4,820 |
| 2024 | 20 | #5,005 |
| 2023 | 19 | #5,197 |
| 2022 | 10 | #8,149 |
| 2021 | 24 | #4,332 |
| 2020 | 23 | #4,380 |
| 2019 | 22 | #4,599 |
| 2018 | 21 | #4,699 |
| 2017 | 21 | #4,700 |
| 2016 | 21 | #4,728 |
| 2015 | 18 | #5,222 |
| 2014 | 23 | #4,355 |
| 2013 | 13 | #6,511 |
| 2012 | 8 | #9,476 |
| 2011 | 6 | #11,872 |
| 2010 | 12 | #6,978 |
| 2009 | 8 | #9,631 |
| 2008 | 6 | #12,164 |
| 2007 | 9 | #8,718 |
| 2006 | 6 | #11,664 |
| 2005 | 9 | #8,116 |
| 2004 | 8 | #8,707 |
| 2003 | 8 | #8,412 |
| 2002 | — | — |
| 2001 | 11 | #6,322 |
| 2000 | 10 | #6,696 |
| 1995 | — | — |
| 1990 | 5 | #9,107 |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | 8 | #4,827 |
| 1975 | 12 | #3,188 |
| 1970 | 11 | #3,019 |
| 1965 | 12 | #2,435 |
| 1960 | 11 | #2,646 |
| 1955 | 20 | #1,770 |
| 1950 | 10 | #2,538 |
| 1945 | 10 | #2,350 |
| 1940 | 10 | #2,437 |
| 1935 | 16 | #1,814 |
| 1930 | 28 | #1,389 |
| 1925 | 20 | #1,787 |
| 1920 | 31 | #1,313 |
| 1915 | 41 | #993 |
| 1910 | 8 | #1,280 |
| 1905 | 9 | #899 |
| 1900 | 17 | #618 |
| 1895 | 20 | #450 |
| 1890 | 24 | #368 |
| 1885 | 31 | #306 |
| 1880 | 29 | #315 |
Famous people named Ole
- Ole Rømer Astronomer · 1644–1710
- Ole Kirk Christiansen Businessperson · 1891–1958
- Ole Bull Musician · 1810–1880
- Ole Nydahl Writer · b. 1941
- Ole Einar Bjørndalen Athlete · b. 1974
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ole mean?
A male given name from Danish.
How popular is the name Ole in 2025?
Ole ranked #4,820 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 21 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ole?
2,125 babies have been named Ole in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ole most popular?
Ole peaked in 1881, when 42 newborns received the name.
Is Ole a boy or girl name?
Ole is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ole rising or falling?
Ole is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ole?
Well-known people named Ole include Ole Rømer (astronomer), Ole Kirk Christiansen (businessperson), Ole Bull (musician).