Namewise

Andrew vs Oliver

Andrew and Olivercompared 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.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2016, Andrew was ranked #89 and Oliver #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2013, Andrew was ranked #75 and Oliver #1 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2021, Andrew was ranked #458 and Oliver #2 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Andrew was ranked #334 and Oliver #6 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Oliver #7 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Oliver #10 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Oliver #18 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Andrew and Oliver over time

Andrew and Oliver appear together in 6 published lists, across 218 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Oliver 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 2003, Oliver moved ahead of Andrew in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #36 and #40 the year before became #40 and #36.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Andrew and Oliver changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1959 and 2021, ending at #458 and #2.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Oliver averaged 49.8 places apart, ending at #89 and #1.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Andrew and Oliver were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #334 and #6.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #29 and #23 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #334 and #6.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Andrew held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Oliver in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Oliver #14 in 1975.

    The order changed in 2010: Oliver moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #58 and #62; by 2010 that had become #58 and #52.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Oliver #18.

  • Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1959–2021

    Andrew held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Oliver in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #241 in 1966, Oliver #2 in 2016.

    The order changed in 1990: Oliver moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #323 and #434; by 1990 that had become #392 and #231.

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #458, Oliver #2.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Andrew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Oliver #1 in 2009.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #334, Oliver #6.

  • New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1983–2013

    Andrew held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Oliver in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #6 in 1983, Oliver #1 in 2013.

    The order changed in 1999: Oliver moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #32 and #40; by 1999 that had become #36 and #34.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Andrew #75, Oliver #1.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Andrew held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Oliver in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Oliver #3 in 2016.

    The order changed in 2007: Oliver moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #30 and #53; by 2007 that had become #33 and #28.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Oliver #10.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1989–2016

    Andrew held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Oliver in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Andrew #8 in 1989, Oliver #1 in 2015.

    The order changed in 2003: Oliver moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #36 and #40; by 2003 that had become #40 and #36.

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Andrew #89, Oliver #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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Andrew

Pairs where Andrew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Oliver

Pairs where Oliver shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Andrew, Oliver
FieldAndrewOliver
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningThe English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland.Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated.
OriginGreek, biblicalOld French
Pronunciation/ˈæn.dɹuː//ˈɒlɪvər/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedOllie, Olivier, Oliviero
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025)United Kingdom #1 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Oliver is recorded with a Old French origin.
  • Andrew has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Oliver.
  • Andrew's recorded meaning differs from Oliver's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Andrew

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–2013

    Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #334 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Oliver

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1959

    First recorded at #478 among boys in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #6 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys