Male Polish given name · rank 16 among male names (2024)
/ɔ.ˈli.vjɛr/ · aw-LEE-vyehr
Oliwier is the Polish form of Oliver, a name associated with the olive tree and its fruit, and so with the symbolism of peace and plenty. Although its ultimate origin is debated, it is most often traced to the Latin word for the olive.
The name reached Poland from the West, where it became famous through the medieval epic "The Song of Roland", in which Olivier is the loyal companion of the knight Roland. In Poland it was long rare, but around the turn of the twenty-first century it surged in popularity to become one of the most frequently given boys' names.
It is most often derived from the Latin olivarius or oliva — "olive, olive tree". Some scholars also link it to Old Germanic and Old Norse names of similar sound, such as Alfihar or Áleifr.
| Nominative | Oliwier |
| Genitive | Oliwiera |
| Dative | Oliwierowi |
| Accusative | Oliwiera |
| Instrumental | Oliwierem |
| Locative | Oliwierze |
| Vocative | Oliwierze |
In Poland, Oliwier celebrates its name day on 12 July.
Oli, Oliwierek, Olek, Liwek.
Equivalents in other languages include Oliver (English, German, Czech, Scandinavian), Olivier (French, Dutch), Oliviero (Italian) and Oliverio (Spanish).
For well over a decade Oliwier has ranked among the very most popular names given to boys in Poland.