Olga
Olga is a Christian girl name of Old Norse, via Russian origin, meaning “Holy, blessed”.
| Meaning | Holy, blessed |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Old Norse, via Russian |
| Written as | Ольга |
| Pronunciation | OHL-gah |
| Tradition | Christian |
| Used in | Russia, Ukraine, Spain, Poland |
Meaning and origin of Olga
Olga is the Slavic form of the Old Norse name Helga, from 'heilagr', meaning holy or blessed. It reached Eastern Europe with the Varangians, the Scandinavians who helped found the medieval state of Kievan Rus'. Its most famous bearer is Saint Olga of Kiev, a tenth-century regent who was among the first rulers of Rus' to be baptised. From Russia and Ukraine the name spread across Europe and was widely used in Spain and Latin America in the twentieth century.
Is Olga a Christian name?
Saint Olga is venerated in both Orthodox and Catholic churches and is honoured as 'Equal to the Apostles' in Orthodoxy for her role in bringing Christianity to Rus'.
How popular is Olga?
Still widely recognised in Eastern Europe and the Spanish-speaking world, though now more common among older women.
Gifts with the name Olga
- Olga name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Olga baby gifts (Amazon)
- Christian baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Olga
Names similar to Olga
More Christian girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Olga mean?
Olga means 'Holy, blessed'. It is of Old Norse, via Russian origin.
Is Olga a Christian name?
Saint Olga is venerated in both Orthodox and Catholic churches and is honoured as 'Equal to the Apostles' in Orthodoxy for her role in bringing Christianity to Rus'.
How do you pronounce Olga?
Olga is pronounced OHL-gah.
Is Olga a boy or girl name?
Olga is usually a girl name.