Anna vs Olivia
Anna 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, Anna was ranked #125 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #85 and Olivia #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #99 and Olivia #4 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Anna and Olivia over time
Anna and Olivia appear together in 6 published lists, across 244 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anna in 2.
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.
Anna 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 1991, Olivia moved ahead of Anna in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #42 and #43 the year before became #41 and #36.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Olivia changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #26 and #8.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Olivia averaged 49.4 places apart, ending at #85 and #1.
- Mirrored each other
Over 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Anna fell — from #44 and #66 in 1978 to #85 and #1 in 2021.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Olivia were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 38 years, from 1978 to 2021, ending at #85 and #1.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Olivia in 13.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order changed in 2019: Olivia moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #12 and #14; by 2019 that had become #19 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Olivia #8.
New Zealand · Girls44 shared years, 1977–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Olivia #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 1992: Olivia moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #16 and #17; by 1992 that had become #22 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #99, Olivia #4.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Olivia in 11.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order changed in 2015: Olivia moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #4 and #11; by 2015 that had become #7 and #3.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Olivia #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls38 shared years, 1978–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Olivia in 31.
Highest recorded here: Anna #36 in 1980, Olivia #1 in 2014.
The order changed in 1991: Olivia moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #42 and #43; by 1991 that had become #41 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #85, Olivia #1.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Olivia #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Olivia in 14.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order changed in 2014: Olivia moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #9 and #15; by 2014 that had become #7 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Olivia #2.
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 | Anna | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A form of Hannah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' relating to grace. Appears in the New Testament as a prophetess who recognised Jesus as the Messiah. | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | /əˈlɪviə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Anna is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission origin, while Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Anna has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- Anna's recorded meaning differs from Olivia's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anna 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
Anna
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #38 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2021
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 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