As the (human) mom to a Havanese named Ollie, and who lives in an apartment below a Labradoodle named Ollie, and who had a hairdresser whose mutt was named Oliver (NOT Ollie, most definitely), I offer my standard answer to why some names become popular.
Contagion. And because Boomers were so ubiquitous (Susans and Davids were so common in our groups we referred to them by their last names), certain names become wildly popular simply because of their ubiquity. Boomers have lost influence; no matter: their children, the Millennials and GenX are a large enough cohort to repeat the trend (know any kids born in the last decade or so named Noah? I thought so).
I enjoyed "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" on TV as a child, and I'll always have a soft spot for the name (short for Oliver J. Dragon in this instance, per Wikipedia).
Synchronicity—was just looking at the wiki page for “Olly olly oxen free” yesterday! Lead there by the lyrics of The Brobeck’s song “Ollie” (great song on a great album).
Adding to the Ollie pile: Two of the most lovely local pizza spots over in my neck of the woods: Ollie's Pizza and Ollie's Slice Shop (not to be confused with the local Ollie's Bargain outlet, of course). www.ollies.pizza
As the (human) mom to a Havanese named Ollie, and who lives in an apartment below a Labradoodle named Ollie, and who had a hairdresser whose mutt was named Oliver (NOT Ollie, most definitely), I offer my standard answer to why some names become popular.
Contagion. And because Boomers were so ubiquitous (Susans and Davids were so common in our groups we referred to them by their last names), certain names become wildly popular simply because of their ubiquity. Boomers have lost influence; no matter: their children, the Millennials and GenX are a large enough cohort to repeat the trend (know any kids born in the last decade or so named Noah? I thought so).
"Also, the cutesification of “old” as “ole”..."
I'm glad you pointed this out. I was wondering what new fruit ole (missing an accent on the 'e'?) citrus was! Yes: teeth on edge!
Peanuts, 1955 https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1955/10/03
I enjoyed "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" on TV as a child, and I'll always have a soft spot for the name (short for Oliver J. Dragon in this instance, per Wikipedia).
Synchronicity—was just looking at the wiki page for “Olly olly oxen free” yesterday! Lead there by the lyrics of The Brobeck’s song “Ollie” (great song on a great album).
Everybody knows it's "Ollie Ollie Otsen Free." Geez. (Rhymes with Oxen.) I think the "All The Outs (out theres) in Free" idea is closest.
Adding to the Ollie pile: Two of the most lovely local pizza spots over in my neck of the woods: Ollie's Pizza and Ollie's Slice Shop (not to be confused with the local Ollie's Bargain outlet, of course). www.ollies.pizza
I knew a guy back in the day of Photoshop 3.5 who called his studio VIVID. Something about this Olli business smells the same 🧐