Oliver Lau
Name meaning, origin and global statistics
Oliver Lau is a name that combines Latin origins. The first name Oliver is a masculine given name of Latin origin. Oliver (Serbian Cyrillic and Macedonian Cyrillic: Оливер) 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" & wēra "true"—possibly cognate with Álvaro) and the Anglo-Saxon Alfhere. Oliver is one of Charlemagne's retainers in the 11th-century Song of Roland. The surname Lau: Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn. Oliver is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 60K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Oliver reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.
Etymology & Origin
First Name: Oliver
Meaning: olive tree
Latin
Oliver (Serbian Cyrillic and Macedonian Cyrillic: Оливер) 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" & wēra "true"—possibly cognate with Álvaro) and the Anglo-Saxon Alfhere. Oliver is one of Charlemagne's retainers in the 11th-century Song of Roland.
Surname: Lau
Vietnamese
Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn.
Geographic Distribution
The first name Oliver is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:
Popularity Over Time
Popularity of the name Oliver by decade, based on birth registration data:
Notable People Named Oliver Lau
- Oliver Cromwell (army officer, 1599)
- Oliver Stone (documentarian, 1946)
- Oliver Kahn (association football player, 1969)
- Oliver Goldsmith (essayist, 1728)
People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.
Numerology
According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Oliver Lau:
Wisdom and introspection. A deep, analytical mind drawn to philosophy, spirituality and the search for truth.
Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.
Leadership and independence. This number suggests a self-reliant, ambitious and pioneering personality that forges its own path.
Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the origin of the first name Oliver?
- The first name Oliver originates from Latin. Oliver (Serbian Cyrillic and Macedonian Cyrillic: Оливер) 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" & wēra "true"—possibly cognate with Álvaro) and the Anglo-Saxon Alfhere. Oliver is one of Charlemagne's retainers in the 11th-century Song of Roland.
- When was Oliver most popular?
- The name Oliver reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
- What is the origin of the surname Lau?
- The surname Lau originates from Vietnamese. Amy Lau (1968–2025), American interior designer Andrew Lau (born 1960), Hong Kong director and producer Andy Lau (born 1961), Hong Kong singer and actor Carina Lau (born 1965), Hong Kong-Canadian actress and director Chak Sing Lau, Hong Kong professor of rheumatology Charley Lau (1933–1984), American catcher and hitting coach in Major League Baseball Christel Lau (born 1944), German field hockey player Constance Lau (born 1991), Singaporean actress and model David Lau (born 1966), Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Emma Lau (born 1991), British actress Evelyn Lau (born 1971), Canadian writer Finn.
- What are the origins of the name Oliver Lau?
- The name Oliver Lau combines two different traditions: the first name Oliver has Latin roots, while the surname Lau originates from Vietnamese.