From Mount Olympos, home of the Greek gods; means 'of Olympus.'
Olympia takes its name from Mount Olympus, the cloud-wreathed peak in northern Greece believed to be the throne of the gods in ancient Greek religion — the word itself likely derives from a pre-Greek root meaning simply "mountain" or "sky." The sacred site of Olympia in the Peloponnese, distinct from the mountain, was the location of the ancient Olympic Games, held every four years from 776 BCE in honor of Zeus. To carry the name Olympia is thus to carry echoes of athletic glory, divine aspiration, and one of humanity's oldest celebrations of excellence.
The name has accumulated rich cultural layers over centuries. Édouard Manet's scandalous 1863 painting *Olympia* — depicting a nude woman who meets the viewer's gaze with cool defiance — made it a symbol of modern realism and female autonomy in art history. Olympia Dukakis, the Greek-American actress, brought it into Hollywood prominence with her Oscar-winning role in *Moonstruck* (1987).
S. Senator from Maine, and the name also belongs to the capital city of Washington state. It has long been favored in Greek communities as a tribute to Hellenic heritage and remains elegantly unusual elsewhere — grand in scale but surprisingly wearable, with the natural nickname Pia offering a softer daily option.