This page gathers 59 English names that start with the letter O, running alphabetically from “Oliver” to “Ottaline.” You will find a wide mix here, from popular classics to rare, vintage gems and modern favourites. People use these names when choosing what to call a new baby, naming a character in a story, or simply exploring the meanings and history behind a name they love.
English names are the traditional and adopted given names used across England and the wider English-speaking world. Many carry roots in Latin, Welsh, Irish, Greek, or Norse, blending centuries of culture into everyday use. Shakespeare alone gave us beloved names like “Olivia” and “Ophelia,” which still feel fresh and romantic today.
Below you will find the table with Name, Gender, Origin, Meaning, Famous Namesakes, and Description.
Name: This shows you each given name in the list, spelled clearly so you can compare your options and find one that feels right.
Gender: This tells you whether a name is traditionally used for boys, girls, or both, helping you narrow your search quickly.
Origin: This points to the language or culture a name comes from, so you can sense its background and heritage at a glance.
Meaning: This explains what each name actually means, letting you choose one whose message matches the feeling or value you want to express.
Famous Namesakes: This lists well-known people or characters who share the name, giving you a sense of its personality and cultural connections.
Description: This offers a short, friendly summary of each name’s style and charm, so you can quickly judge whether it suits you.
English names
| Name | Gender | Origin | Meaning | Famous Namesakes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver | Male | English/Latin | Olive tree or descendant of the ancestor | Oliver Cromwell, Oliver Twist |
| Olivia | Female | English/Latin | Olive tree | Olivia Colman, Olivia Newton-John |
| Owen | Male | English/Welsh | Young warrior or noble | Owen Wilson, Wilfred Owen |
| Oscar | Male | English/Irish | Deer-lover or friend of deer | Oscar Wilde, Oscar Hammerstein |
| Olive | Female | English/Latin | Olive tree, symbol of peace | Olive Oyl, Olive Thomas |
| Otis | Male | English | Wealthy or son of Otto | Otis Redding, Otis Williams |
| Ophelia | Female | English/Greek | Help or aid | Ophelia (Hamlet), Ophelia Lovibond |
| Orla | Female | English/Irish | Golden princess | Orla Brady, Orla Kiely |
| Orson | Male | English/Latin | Bear cub | Orson Welles, Orson Scott Card |
| Octavia | Female | English/Latin | Eighth | Octavia Spencer, Octavia Butler |
| Odette | Female | English/French | Wealthy or fragrant | Odette (Swan Lake), Odette Annable |
| Olwen | Female | English/Welsh | White footprint | Olwen (Welsh legend) |
| Orla | Female | English/Irish | Golden lady | Orla Gartland |
| Olga | Female | English/Russian | Holy or blessed | Olga Korbut, Saint Olga |
| Orla | Female | English/Irish | Golden princess | Orla Guerin |
| Ottilie | Female | English/German | Prosperous in battle | Ottilie Patterson |
| Orville | Male | English/French | Golden town | Orville Wright, Orville Redenbacher |
| Osborne | Male | English | Divine bear or god-warrior | Ozzy Osbourne (surname) |
| Osgood | Male | English | God-Goth or divine good | Osgood Perkins |
| Oswald | Male | English | Divine power or god’s rule | Saint Oswald, Lee Harvey Oswald |
| Oswin | Male | English | Divine friend or god’s friend | King Oswin of Deira |
| Osric | Male | English | Divine ruler | Osric (Hamlet) |
| Odell | Male | English | Woad hill | Odell Beckham Jr. |
| Onslow | Male | English | Hill of the zealous one | Onslow (Keeping Up Appearances) |
| Ottoline | Female | English | Prosperous in battle | Lady Ottoline Morrell |
| Oona | Female | English/Irish | Unity or lamb | Oona Chaplin, Oona O’Neill |
| Orlando | Male | English/Italian | Famous throughout the land | Orlando Bloom, Orlando Gibbons |
| Oberon | Male | English | Noble or bear-like | Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) |
| Olympia | Female | English/Greek | From Mount Olympus | Olympia Dukakis |
| Odin | Male | English/Norse | Fury or inspiration | Odin (Norse mythology) |
| Olivier | Male | English/French | Olive tree | Laurence Olivier |
| Orpha | Female | English/Hebrew | Fawn or back of the neck | Orpha (biblical) |
| Oriel | Female | English/Latin | Golden or window | Oriel College, Oxford |
| Orna | Female | English/Irish | Pale or olive-coloured | Orna (Irish use) |
| Olwyn | Female | English/Welsh | White footprint | Olwyn Hughes |
| Onora | Female | English/Irish | Honour | Onora O’Neill |
| Orrin | Male | English | Mountain or river | Orrin Hatch |
| Osmond | Male | English | Divine protection | Osmond family (The Osmonds) |
| Otto | Male | English/German | Wealthy or prosperous | Otto von Bismarck, Otto Frank |
| Olin | Male | English | Holly or ancestor’s relic | Olin Howland |
| Oddny | Female | English/Norse | New point or fresh sword | Oddny (Norse use) |
| Orinthia | Female | English | Possibly bird-like | Orinthia (Shaw’s play) |
| Osanna | Female | English | Save or praise | Osanna (medieval England) |
| Olivette | Female | English/French | Little olive | Olivette (operetta) |
| Orlanda | Female | English | Famous throughout the land | Orlanda (literary use) |
| Oriana | Female | English/Latin | Dawn or golden | Oriana Fallaci, Queen Oriana (Amadis) |
| Osbert | Male | English | Divine and bright | Osbert Sitwell |
| Owena | Female | English/Welsh | Young warrior, noble | Owena (Welsh use) |
| Ozzie | Male | English | Divine power (diminutive) | Ozzie Smith |
| Orsola | Female | English/Italian | Little bear | Orsola (Italian-English use) |
| Odelia | Female | English/Hebrew | I will praise God | Odelia (modern use) |
| Olympe | Female | English/French | From Mount Olympus | Olympe de Gouges |
| Orfeo | Male | English/Italian | Beautiful voice | Orfeo (opera) |
| Octavius | Male | English/Latin | Eighth | Octavius (Roman emperor Augustus) |
| Ossian | Male | English/Scottish | Little deer | Ossian (Gaelic poet) |
| Odelyn | Female | English | Little wealthy one | Odelyn (rare use) |
| Orabel | Female | English | Golden beauty | Orabel (medieval England) |
| Orlina | Female | English | Golden | Orlina (rare use) |
| Ottaline | Female | English | Prosperous in battle | Ottaline (variant) |
Descriptions
Oliver
A hugely popular English boys’ name often topping baby-name charts. It carries gentle associations with the olive tree, a symbol of peace.
Olivia
A graceful name popularised by Shakespeare in “Twelfth Night.” It has been one of the most-loved English girls’ names for decades.
Owen
A strong, single-syllable name with deep Welsh and English roots. It blends well with both traditional and modern surnames.
Oscar
A literary, charismatic name long favoured in England and beyond. It also lends its name to the famous film awards.
Olive
A vintage English nature name that has charmingly come back into fashion. It evokes calm, peace and old-world warmth.
Otis
A soulful, retro English name with a friendly, vintage feel. It pairs nostalgia with an upbeat, approachable sound.
Ophelia
A poetic name immortalised by Shakespeare’s tragic heroine in “Hamlet.” It feels romantic, dramatic and timeless.
Orla
A delicate, melodic name with Celtic charm widely used across the British Isles. Its golden meaning gives it a regal touch.
Orson
A bold, distinctive name with strong literary and cinematic associations. It conveys both warmth and quiet power.
Octavia
An elegant classical name historically given to an eighth child. It carries an air of refinement and Roman grandeur.
Odette
A graceful name made famous by the white swan in “Swan Lake.” It feels delicate, romantic and softly elegant.
Olwen
A lyrical name from Welsh legend, where flowers sprang up wherever the maiden walked. It feels fresh, gentle and storybook-pretty.
Orla
A bright, sweet name beloved across England and Ireland. Its short, lilting sound makes it easy to love.
Olga
A strong, classic name with Slavic roots that travelled into English use. It carries a sense of dignity and resilience.
Orla
A charming, soft-sounding name popular among English-speaking families. It blends Celtic heritage with modern appeal.
Ottilie
A dainty, vintage name enjoying a revival among English parents. Its delicate sound hides a surprisingly bold meaning.
Orville
A spirited old-fashioned name tied to the pioneering Wright brothers. It feels inventive, sturdy and full of character.
Osborne
A traditional English name with noble, ancient roots. It carries a refined, gentlemanly quality.
Osgood
A rare, historic English name with a stately, old-world ring. It feels distinguished and pleasantly unusual.
Oswald
An ancient English name once borne by a sainted king of Northumbria. It carries weighty, regal heritage.
Oswin
A gentle yet noble Old English name meaning a friend blessed by the divine. It feels both kind and dignified.
Osric
An ancient English name combining the ideas of god and ruler. It has a courtly, medieval flavour.
Odell
A smooth, melodic English place-name turned given name. It feels modern despite its old geographic roots.
Onslow
A quirky, characterful English name drawn from place and surname use. It carries a wry, distinctly British charm.
Ottoline
A refined, aristocratic English name with literary connections to the Bloomsbury set. It feels elegant and uncommon.
Oona
A soft, lyrical name beloved across the British Isles. Its simple sound carries gentle warmth.
Orlando
A romantic, adventurous name celebrated in Shakespeare and Virginia Woolf’s writing. It feels dashing and timeless.
Oberon
A magical name belonging to the fairy king in Shakespeare’s comedy. It feels enchanting, regal and otherworldly.
Olympia
A majestic name evoking the home of the Greek gods. It feels grand, sporty and full of bright energy.
Odin
A powerful name drawn from the chief Norse god, now used in English-speaking homes. It carries strength and mythic weight.
Olivier
A polished, theatrical variant of Oliver linked to the legendary British actor. It feels sophisticated and artistic.
Orpha
A rare, vintage English name with biblical roots. It has a soft, antique charm.
Oriel
A bright, uncommon English name also tied to a famous Oxford college. It feels scholarly and luminous.
Orna
A short, gentle name popular across the British Isles. Its understated sound feels calm and pretty.
Olwyn
A graceful Welsh-rooted name evoking flowers blooming underfoot. It feels lyrical and fresh.
Onora
A dignified name celebrating honour and integrity. It feels strong, principled and softly elegant.
Orrin
A crisp, understated English name with natural associations. It feels steady and quietly confident.
Osmond
A traditional English name meaning protected by the divine. It carries a warm, old-fashioned reliability.
Otto
A punchy, vintage name with palindromic charm and growing modern appeal. It feels sturdy and friendly.
Olin
A short, smooth English name with a clean, modern sound. It feels approachable and lightly distinctive.
Oddny
An unusual name of Norse heritage used occasionally in English. It feels rare and intriguing.
Orinthia
A poetic, literary name coined for a George Bernard Shaw play. It feels delicate and rarefied.
Osanna
A medieval English name derived from “hosanna,” a cry of praise. It feels antique and devout.
Olivette
A dainty, diminutive form of Olive with French flair. It feels playful and sweetly old-fashioned.
Orlanda
A feminine form of Orlando with romantic, adventurous undertones. It feels bold yet graceful.
Oriana
A luminous name once used poetically for Queen Elizabeth I. It feels radiant and stately.
Osbert
An ancient English name combining ideas of god and brilliance. It feels scholarly and distinguished.
Owena
A feminine form of Owen with the same noble spirit. It feels strong yet softly feminine.
Ozzie
A breezy, friendly short form of names like Oswald or Oscar. It feels casual and upbeat.
Orsola
A warm, cuddly name meaning little bear, occasionally used in English. It feels gentle and endearing.
Odelia
A melodic name blending devotion and elegance. It feels uplifting and softly ornate.
Olympe
A refined French-flavoured variant of Olympia. It feels chic, classical and spirited.
Orfeo
A lyrical name tied to the mythical musician Orpheus. It feels artistic and romantic.
Octavius
A grand classical name historically given to an eighth child. It carries Roman authority and gravitas.
Ossian
A romantic literary name drawn from legendary Gaelic poetry. It feels misty, poetic and noble.
Odelyn
A rare, delicate English name with a soft, modern lilt. It feels fresh and uncommon.
Orabel
A charming medieval name blending gold and beauty. It feels romantic and storybook-sweet.
Orlina
A pretty, light name suggesting golden warmth. It feels gentle and uncommon.
Ottaline
A graceful variant of Ottoline with vintage refinement. It feels elegant and rare.