 Olybrius was born in Rome, in the ancient and powerful "gens" Anicia, of Italian descent.According to the consensus of historians, he was related to the Consul Anicius Hermogenianus Olybrius, whose wife and cousin, Anicia Juliana, had the same name that Olybrius gave to his own daughter.Other historians consider this questionable, as "Juliana" was a common name in the "gens" Anicia, and because Hermogenianus seems to have begotten only one daughter, who took chastity vows.