Caoimhe vs Olive
Caoimhe and Olivecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #31 and Olive #247 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caoimhe was ranked #1110 and Olive #47 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #70 and Olive #119 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Caoimhe was ranked #275 and Olive #106 among girls in Scotland.
Caoimhe and Olive over time
Caoimhe and Olive appear together in 3 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Caoimhe held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Olive in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Caoimhe reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Olive 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 1981, Caoimhe moved ahead of Olive in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #220 and #220 the year before became #188 and #193.
- Mirrored each other
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Olive fell — from #380 and #102 in 1966 to #31 and #247 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Caoimhe and Olive were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1110 and #47.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1966–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Olive in 10.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #12 in 2003, Olive #34 in 1975.
The order changed in 1981: Caoimhe moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #220 and #220; by 1981 that had become #188 and #193.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #31, Olive #247.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Olive in 22.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #639 in 2013, Olive #47 in 2025.
The order changed in 2006: Olive moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #769 and #1012; by 2006 that had become #869 and #816.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caoimhe #1110, Olive #47.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2013–2024
Caoimhe held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Olive in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caoimhe #36 in 2013, Olive #119 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caoimhe #70, Olive #119.
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 | Caoimhe | Olive |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'dear', 'beloved', or 'gentle', from the Irish word caomh. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkiːvʲə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #31 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #47 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caoimhe has a recorded origin (Irish); Olive does not have one recorded yet.
- Caoimhe has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olive.
- A meaning is recorded for Caoimhe; Olive doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Caoimhe
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2003 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Olive
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #72 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2010–2023
Highest recorded position: #21 among girls in New Zealand, in 2022 (recorded 2010–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls