Olga

I used to find the name Olga ugly, but I actually find it quite nice now.

Interesting name.

I actually really love the name! It’s super cute but also has an essence of elegance to it. Short but sweet.

Honestly super cute. People are holding onto the old lady association way too hard.

It sounds better (read: slightly less awful) pronounced in Russian than in English, but I still find it very unappealing in any accent or language. I think the "o" at the beginning and the "g" sound don't do this name any favours.

Olga was my grandma’s name. She was a lovely, mumsy Polish woman, a very typical grandma. I used to dislike this name and relegate it to the honouring middle spot but it’s recently grown on me! Olga on a little girl is so sweet, it sounds like a princess or a ballerina perhaps, but it’s so warm and friendly too.

This name is definitely an oldie, but it does have a strong sound to it. When someone says Olga I think of a big Russian woman with many children, a very mama bear figure. Olga conveys someone very simple and down to earth for me.

I love it. Olga is a good name because it's beautiful, simple and unique ❤️❤️.

When you think of this name, the only thing you can think of is an ogre.

This name is ugly and disgusting.

It DOESN’T SOUND “ugly” to me!

NO. It sounds so weird with the Ol and then the added GA just makes it look so ugly.

I have this name and have received mixed reactions because of it. Some Americans have remarked that they like my name partly because they find it unique, while others have remarked that they think the name doesn't suit me because it's associated with old, ugly villains— this seems to be a common depiction of women named "Olga" in Western media. As a child, some children unfortunately bullied me by calling me "Oldga." In Central Europe, people would sometimes jokingly say that I must be from Russia because of my name. I love a singer named "ORIGA" (a romanized Japanese transliteration of the Russian name), and I think the diminutive form "Olya" is cute, but I am personally dissatisfied with having this name because of its negative associations in places where I've lived, how it sounds, its meaning, the story behind how I got it, and how it reflects my own identity. I have a lot of personal bias when it comes to this name that I think doesn't apply to others though, so I can see how others may be satisfied with this name.

Dislike! Sounds too harsh and biting.

Despite the nice meaning, I can not bring myself to like this name.

Bulky and ugly name.

This name is gorgeous. I pronounce it with a soft l, so that’s why I think it sounds prettier to me.

Such a beautiful and strong name. Olga! Just beautiful! Looks strong, sounds strong, not boring and even while for many it feels harsh, its actually such a good quality name, historic and just a classic beauty!

I rate Olga 9/10.
I really like it. It is simple, elegant, refined (the Royal vibe) and it doesn't need any nickname. It is quite international and it is easy to spell and write in every language.

It means holy. I think it's wonderful.

This is, by far, one of the ugliest names ever. If you have this name, I would suggest legally changing it immediately. Don’t even consider naming your child this, unless you want them to live a dreadful life. They’ll constantly be getting bullied. It’s so ugly, and the amount of other people who think this are uncountable. Please, for the love of god, PLEASE don’t name your child this. That would basically be child abuse.

Nasty name.

I like this name; however, it would be IMPOSSIBLE to use this name if you live in the States/Western Europe where a name like this is uncommon, people won’t know how to pronounce it correctly.

My middle name is Olga, At first I didn't like it since I related it to Shrek a lot. And still do. But I was given that name/named after my very beloved late grandmother. So I hold the name dear. It may not be a very pretty sounding name but it's still very beautiful.

Absolutely hideous.

This is the name of my good friend, Olga! She's very kind and was the most beautiful in my friend group when she was younger, she was also a blonde. When I think of Olga I imagine the eldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas (Olga Romanova) and my good friend Olga. I think Olga is a marvelous name to use, but I don't recommend it today, because other commenters have said that they hate the name, so I think that little Olga will get teased because of her name. Thanks for reading :)

It reminds me of a cute petite Russian girl or an older women. I don’t hate it but I don’t think I’d use it for a child.

Olga, more like Ugla. It's so ugly it even sounds like ugly.

Ugly.

Unattractive.

My original mother was named Olga, and I hate her. She abandoned me and my sister at 13. (We're now 16) We had to go to foster care. But now we have a nice family in the states. I'm glad me and my twin sister weren't separated. However, my mother does not deserve to be named after. Olga is not on my list of names, also I really hate the sound of it.

Olga is one of my least favorite names along with Helga and Gerda. It's that harsh G sound in the middle.

My first daughter’s name is Sylvie Alina Olga, I adore the name Olga, but among friends and family, Olga was not popular. I eventually decided that Olga should be the middle name, and it worked out well, I would say. I love the meaning, it also has the same root as my name, so pretty cool. Actually, Lily’s name Sylvie Alina Olga almost all have the same root as my name. I must say that in the U.K., Olga is not a popular name, but when we go back to Russia, it’s very common.

No youth in it.

One of my neighbors is named Olga, she is a very polite old lady.

Harsh and unpleasant sounding.

Recently (not really recently) I wrote a comment saying that this name is harsh and unpleasant sounding (as if that was true) this name has been growing on me and I would like to say something. Whether you are Russian or not, I would HIGHLY recommend this! It has that "Old lady sound to it" but that doesn't affect the name overall. This name is of a different culture/country and we must learn to accept that! And honestly... I would prefer this over those tacky, trendy, over-the-top names like Kaelyyn, Justin, Jay-Jay, Uhh! Why do people like those names so much?!? It's a nice pleasant Russian name that reminds me of this beautiful farm girl with braids. Learn it people!

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One more thing:

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In my personal opinion, I don't really think it matters if a name has youth in it or not. Names like Elma, Gladys, Bernice are just "Old sounding" to many people's ears because they are portrayed like that way. But again... Everybody has their own opinion.

Bizarre, ugly, and rough sounding.

I used to think this was an old cranky babushka name (it’s probably the hard g after a soft letter like l, followed by another soft letter like a that makes it unappealing to anglophones), but I’m a big fan of the Bolshoi ballet in Russia and seeing a lot of the young (that is, 20-30 year old) ballerinas named Olga has given me a fresher view on it and it’s actually quite pretty.

Normally I wouldn’t love the name, but I still think it’s a classy name to give to a girl. But I personally think it sounds a little unattractive, but not too ugly! I’m neutral on this name. Olga is a good name, and so is Helga.

Olga is an old Russian lady who wears a little scarf around her head, she's hunched over, and hates her name. Olga is an ugly and horrific name. And in my opinion one of the worst names much like Bertha, Agatha, Aggie, and Tallulah. Oh it's so bad...

Personally, I think this is an awful name for a girl to have. It sounds a bit ugly and unattractive. No one's daughter could bear this as her first, middle, or last name. She would probably get teased about it!
Actually, I take back what I said! I actually think this is a nice name. I just think the name sounds too close to “old” like her name would be pronounced like “old-ga”, that’s what would’ve lead to teasing. Personally I wouldn’t name my daughter this, but if you love it, then I’m happy for you to name her this! I like this name!

Olga is growing on me. I admit that I never liked it in the past because it seemed kind of cold to me, but it sounds quite pretty when pronounced in Russian or another language where Olga is a well-used name. And again, I have to reprimand the people who say rude things about names on this site. You can comment that you dislike a name without insulting the bearer's looks, nationality, race, and class.

I absolutely love this name, no matter which language it's in. The diminutive 'Olya' is cute too.
It's a name I'd seriously consider. Fits any age, in my opinion.

While I wouldn't use it myself - unfortunately the stigma and the majority's impressions would bring upon much bullying... which is unfortunate. BUT I do find it unique and I like the variants and the native phoenetics with it - Olgina, Olya, Olyana
I'm not a "hater" of many names - except for names that just don't make sense... like randomly naming a kid Cement or plywood... or Treehouse - idk lol.

To be honest I love this name. Sounds oddly regal to me. Sure I get an older picture in my head when I hear it, but I love classic names.

It's a bit strange that the name is detested by so many people - it's quite nice. It is likely, though, that the problem has its roots in the pronunciation of the name. In English, where there's no soft l' sound, it sounds rather harsh, and that's what I'd agree on with those who dislike it. However, in Russian, for example, the name sounds much softer (plus the diminutives) and is very popular. It also is easy to remember and spell. I am a bearer of the name, and it's fine and I was never bullied, since I went as Olya. I wouldn't recommend it in English-speaking countries, though, because the pronunciation is impaired, but perhaps Helga would sound better.

Olga is a very nice, powerful name and fits a slim blonde with blue eyes and aristocratic facial features. Of course the English speaking people of the world will associate it with German culture, which they hate with great intensity and they even started two world wars to prevent German culture from spreading, so avoid it if you are in an English speaking nation.

This is one of the WORST names I've ever heard! It ties with Bertha as being the most REPULSIVE and DISGUSTING girl name ever. Whoever has the name Olga should get their name legally changed ASAP.

The name gives me the impression of a beefy Russian female wrestler.
Helga is a close relative, perhaps a sister and colleague of this wrestler.

Olga is a nice name. Why don't people like it?

Personally Olga is not a name I really like, I think maybe because of media it sounds a bit ugly in English countries. But in countries in which it is more common and traditional, I bet people love it!

As someone who was born with this as a first name, let me tell you all I can about it.
For one thing, yes, I did hate it most of my childhood. I was called "ogre" as a kid.

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Bottom line is yes, it doesn't sound like a very glamorous name. Yes, if you live in an area that lacks cultural diversity, kids aren't going to know what to think of your kid's weird Eastern European name and judge it harshly. But I grew out of it. In fact, until I read all these nasty comments about the name, I haven't felt conscious about it in years.

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Bottom line is whether or not you choose this name for your child, remember that kids are jerks by nature, and so are most adults, so don't worry about what other people think when you choose your child's name. Probably a good idea to stay away from it if you live in an area that lacks overall diversity and acceptance.
One last thing: don't pronounce it wrong. The "l" is there for a reason, so don't say "oh-ga".

I used to despise this name, but now I love it thanks to the beautiful Olga Nikolaevna Romanov (The First daughter of Tsar Nicholas II). Also, one of Tsar Nicholas II's sisters is named Olga Alexandrovna.

When I say this name it makes me feel like I'm saying "old-ga", but overall I think it's kind of cute and unique.

The name Olga was given to 86 baby girls born in the US in 2012.

I always imagined that somebody named Olga would be from Eastern Europe, tall, buff, hardline communist, kinda fat, and very loud. I imagine them being all their fathers ever wanted in a daughter, even though they are gigantic and gross. I picture an Olga being rude and stronger than all my friends combined. However, I did meet somebody named Olga today, so my views might change later. She's weird and talks when it doesn't seem appropriate, but she's not all the other things I said above. Quite frankly, I'd like to get to know her better just because of her name.

In some odd way I actually like this name... a lot. I don't think of anyone old or ugly when I hear it. I think of a pretty Slavic girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.

It's strange because it sometimes reminds me of a fair pretty woman, but then again it reminds me of an ugly old lady with warts all over her face and it sometimes reminds me of an ogre...

Why do people associate this name with being ugly? Is because of the similarity in words?

I feel awful for anyone who ends up with this name. It is very outdated and sounds very harsh. When I hear the name Olga I think of an old witch like lady. Also, I feel like if someone named their child this, the child would be bullied a lot!

It's one of those names I can take or leave, though it certainly wouldn't be my first choice, if paired with the right name, it could be cute and modern. Although, for the current times, it may work best as a middle name, unless of course, the person goes by their middle name (I do).

I love this name and I'm glad that it's becoming a bit of a trendy name here in Sweden. It's a great name because it's easy to say, it's simple and a bit mysterious at the same time, and it feels like a strong name. I've only met two Olgas so far and they were both from Russia and both were very sweet. Oh and I also know a cat named Olga.

I will always have a soft spot for this name because it was the name of my Spanish-born mentor as a child. The meaning is quite lovely.

A name worthy of a king's daughter – simple but intriguing, time-honoured but not old-fashioned. To me, it gives the image of an independent young woman, gentle and kind-hearted, but strong and brave at the same time.

I hate it. It gives the image of an overweight, dirty, medieval peasant who feasts off raw animal meat and believes chicken bones bring good luck. Pretty unpleasant image, isn't it?

Wonderfully royal name! :)

The "olg" part just isn't pleasing to me. Helga looks, sounds, is prettier and stronger. Both remind me vaguely of two of my favorite Hey Arnold characters.

I don't understand all of this hatred towards Olga! I think it's a beautiful name, quite pleasant to say, uncommon and elegant, and it doesn't sound like word 'ugly' at all! I recommend this name highly. A kid named Olga won't be teased and it will suit her from childhood to adulthood.

This name is very pretty, despite a lot of others' dislike of it. There aren't enough O names that are popular, so Olga would make a great choice if you wanted an O name and didn't want to use Olivia.

This has been one of my favorite female names for quite awhile. The diminutives are also lovely, like Olya, Olyechka, Olyenka, and Olyeshenka. I don't get all of the hate for this name in the West. It makes me think of the beautiful Grand Duchess Olga, the oldest of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Aleksandra's four daughters. The name does sound softer when it's pronounced the native way.

I used to think this name is bad, but it has a pretty strong vibe when you think about it. I wouldn't name a child this though, maybe as a middle name. :)

This is my least favourite name. The sound, the look, my associations.

Olga is a very beautiful name when you look at its meaning and say it to yourself again and again for a little while, I would consider it for one of my daughters! =D

This name is so ugly that it even sounds like the word 'ugly'!

It's a harsh-sounding name, and it makes me picture a very skinny, wrinkly-faced woman with hair dyed way too red and with too much eye make-up and heavily framed glasses. It sounds more like the name of a middle-aged woman than the name of someone young.

I used to find it too harsh. But after seeing so much beautiful Russian Orthodox history associated with the name, I find it wonderful. In fact it's one of my favorite names for girls. If only I could convince my wife to consider it for a daughter. *SIGH*

At first it seems nearly repulsive, but after repeating it to yourself for a bit, it sounds quite lovely.

Olga is kind of an ugly name, not a name I'll name my daughters, but possibly a middle name because I adore the Russian Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia.

I used to hate this name A LOT! But I've recently met someone named Olga, and she is very pretty and nice and nothing you'd think an "Olga" might be. She's Russian.

This name reminds me of someone with a unibrow or a huge hairy mole.

I'm sorry but this name is the most ugly name I know. It just sound so UGLY! I once knew a very, very sweet and beautiful girl with this name, but still I hate the name. I'm glad it means "blessed": then there's something beautiful about it!

I find Olga an ugly name, of a big, beefy woman, just the same as I find Helga. Not flattering at all, unless the bearer is beautiful.

I used to hate my name because it sounds serious and I asked my friends to call me "Ola" but now I think it's nice.

I agree, it can seem quite a hard name, but it has the most beautiful diminutives. Olya, Olen'ka, Olechka, Ol'ka, Olish'ka...

I hate it, it just, well, I would think it belongs to an ugly woman.