Abigail vs Olivia
Abigail and Oliviacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #154 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #80 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #273 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #55 and Olivia #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Abigail was ranked #57 and Olivia #4 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Abigail and Olivia over time
Abigail and Olivia appear together in 6 published lists, across 193 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Abigail in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Abigail reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Olivia in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Olivia moved ahead of Abigail in England and Wales · Girls — #21 and #24 the year before became #24 and #19.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abigail and Olivia changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1969 and 2025, ending at #115 and #8.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Abigail and Olivia averaged 46.6 places apart, ending at #154 and #1.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Olivia were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 32 years, from 1991 to 2023, ending at #57 and #4.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Abigail #30 in 2010, Olivia #1 in 2012.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Olivia in 48.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Olivia #8.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1991–2023
Abigail held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 32.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #30 in 2010, Olivia #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Abigail #57, Olivia #4.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Olivia in 28.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order changed in 1997: Olivia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #21 and #24; by 1997 that had become #24 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #154, Olivia #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Olivia in 27.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #80, Olivia #2.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1992–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 26.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #246 in 2022, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #273, Olivia #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 2002–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 24.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #24 in 2010, Olivia #1 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #55, Olivia #3.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Abigail | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /əˈlɪviə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Olivea, Liv, Livvy, Oliwia |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Olivia has a recorded origin (Latin); Abigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abigail and Olivia both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Olivia; Abigail doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Abigail a "medium" Data Confidence level and Olivia a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Olivia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #488 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls