Alma vs Olivia
Alma 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, Alma was ranked #234 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alma was ranked #315 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Alma was ranked #8 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alma was ranked #226 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Alma and Olivia over time
Alma and Olivia appear together in 3 published lists, across 122 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alma 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.
Olivia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Alma in none. 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 2007, Olivia moved ahead of Alma in Norway · Girls — #119 and #130 the year before became #102 and #81.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alma and Olivia changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1975 and 2025, ending at #8 and #2.
- Longest-running competitions
Alma and Olivia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 42 years, from 1975 to 2025, ending at #8 and #2.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Alma #5 in 2023, Olivia #2 in 2023.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 51.
Highest recorded here: Alma #204 in 1978, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #226, Olivia #8.
Norway · Girls42 shared years, 1975–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Olivia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Alma #5 in 2023, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order changed in 2007: Olivia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #119 and #130; by 2007 that had become #102 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #8, Olivia #2.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alma #228 in 2023, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alma #234, Olivia #1.
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 | Alma | 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 | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Olivea, Liv, Livvy, Oliwia |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #8 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Olivia has a recorded origin (Latin); Alma does not have one recorded yet.
- Alma has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- A meaning is recorded for Olivia; Alma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Alma 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
Alma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #293 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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