The name was introduced to England by the Normans, where its form was possibly influenced again by its Anglo-Saxon cognate Alfhere.

[6] It was commonly used in medieval England, but became rare after the Restoration because of the unpopularity of Oliver Cromwell.

The name was revived in the 19th century, possibly inspired by the title character of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist (1838).

Pet forms of the English given name include Ollie[6] and, in medieval times, Noll.

[7][circular reference] Modern variants include French Olivier, Hungarian Olivér, Indonesian Oliver, Irish Oilibhéar or Oilibhéir, Scottish Gaelic Oilvreis, Portuguese Olívio,[8] Italian Oliviero, Spanish Óliver, and Polish Oliwier or Oliwer.