Olai

Olai is a masculine given name used in Norway and Denmark, and it appears in historical Scandinavian records in its Latinized form Olai. It is a variant of Olaf/Olav, names derived from Old Norse Óláfr, commonly explained as meaning "ancestor's relic" or "heritage and descendant," though etymologies vary. Historically, Olai occurs in medieval and early modern documents, including church registers and legal records, where clerks Latinized names.

In modern usage, Olai is uncommon as a given name, but it remains of interest to historians and in genealogical research as a form encountered in historical sources. Related names include Ola, Ole, Olav, and Olaf. In Icelandic and modern Norwegian, Olaf variants now predominate (Ólafur in Icelandic; Olav in Norwegian). The form Olai is largely retired from everyday use but sometimes appears in genealogies or as a traditional name within families tracing Nordic ancestry.

Because of its Latinized nature, Olai appears in historical biographies and inscriptions, often referring to persons in a Latinized context rather than as a contemporary given name. See also Olaf, Olav, Ólafur, Ola, Ole.