Oleg
Borrowed from Russian Оле́г (Olég), a Varangian name, ultimately from Old Norse Helgi (“holy, sacred or blessed”).
Every Oleg since 1959 — 466 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Oleg
Oleg is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #8,728 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1959, 466 American babies have been named Oleg. Its peak came in 2019, when 26 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
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 Oleg stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Oleg year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | #8,728 |
| 2024 | 6 | #11,954 |
| 2023 | 14 | #6,425 |
| 2022 | 12 | #7,130 |
| 2021 | 8 | #9,453 |
| 2020 | 7 | #10,304 |
| 2019 | 26 | #4,080 |
| 2018 | 7 | #10,437 |
| 2017 | 13 | #6,568 |
| 2016 | 13 | #6,616 |
| 2015 | 16 | #5,670 |
| 2014 | 17 | #5,419 |
| 2013 | 16 | #5,574 |
| 2012 | 9 | #8,683 |
| 2011 | 22 | #4,466 |
| 2010 | 12 | #6,979 |
| 2009 | 13 | #6,714 |
| 2008 | 16 | #5,694 |
| 2007 | 16 | #5,619 |
| 2006 | 18 | #5,007 |
| 2005 | 15 | #5,500 |
| 2004 | 21 | #4,222 |
| 2003 | 13 | #5,791 |
| 2002 | 19 | #4,288 |
| 2001 | 22 | #3,812 |
| 2000 | 12 | #5,816 |
| 1995 | 5 | #9,893 |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Oleg
- Oleg of Novgorod Politician · 900–912
- Oleg Antonov Inventor · 1906–1984
- Oleg Blokhin Soccer player · b. 1952
- Oleg Penkovsky Politician · 1919–1963
- Oleg Popov Actor · 1930–2016
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Oleg mean?
Borrowed from Russian Оле́г (Olég), a Varangian name, ultimately from Old Norse Helgi (“holy, sacred or blessed”).
How popular is the name Oleg in 2025?
Oleg ranked #8,728 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Oleg?
466 babies have been named Oleg in the United States since 1959, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Oleg most popular?
Oleg peaked in 2019, when 26 newborns received the name.
Is Oleg a boy or girl name?
Oleg is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Oleg rising or falling?
Oleg is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Oleg?
Well-known people named Oleg include Oleg of Novgorod (politician), Oleg Antonov (inventor), Oleg Blokhin (soccer player).