Ole

At a Glance: Name: Ole – Meaning: short form of Olaf ('ancestor's heir') – Origin: Danish – Gender: primarily used for boys – Pronunciation: OH-leh

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Ole is a Danish name that also works as a short form of Olaf, meaning "ancestor's heir." It's short, simple to say, and carries that clear Scandinavian root if you're looking for something compact with a bit of history behind it. That Danish, Olaf-linked background is the main thing to know if you're weighing Ole for a baby name.

Meaning & Origin of Ole

Meaning: Short form of Olaf ('ancestor's heir').

Origin: Danish.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Ole

Phonetic: OH-leh   IPA: /ˈoʊlə/

Popularity of Ole

SSA records show Ole was most common back in 1881, when it ranked #242 with 42 babies given the name; by 2024 it had dropped to #5178 with just 19 babies, based on data spanning 1880 to 2024.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Ole Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Ole, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Fanny
• Daisie
• Ary
• Vann
• Alys
• Mahala

FAQ

What does the name Ole mean?

Short form of Olaf (‘ancestor’s heir’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ole)

How do you pronounce Ole?

Ole is pronounced OH-leh (IPA: /ˈoʊlə/).

Is Ole a popular name right now?

Ole peaked at #242 in 1881 and is ranked #5178 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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