Catherine vs Olivia
Catherine 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, Catherine was ranked #594 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Olivia #3 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Olivia #4 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Olivia #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Catherine and Olivia over time
Catherine and Olivia appear together in 6 published lists, across 170 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Catherine 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.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Olivia 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Girls, Olivia moved into the top 50 at #33 in 2003 as Catherine fell out of it to #53, having been #36 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1990, Olivia moved ahead of Catherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #65 and #87 the year before became #63 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Olivia changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #227 and #2.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Catherine and Olivia averaged 40.3 places apart, ending at #99 and #4.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Olivia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #273 and #8.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Olivia in 23.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1964, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order changed in 2005: Olivia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #64 and #69; by 2005 that had become #83 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Olivia #8.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #594, Olivia #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Olivia in 24.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order changed in 2003: Olivia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #36 and #39; by 2003 that had become #53 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Olivia #2.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1977–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Olivia in 13.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #24 in 1980, Olivia #4 in 2001.
The order changed in 1986: Olivia moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #38 and #52; by 1986 that had become #48 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Olivia #4.
Norway · Girls19 shared years, 1964–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Olivia in 10.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #292 in 1978, Olivia #3 in 2018.
The order changed in 1992: Olivia moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #336 and #520; by 1992 that had become #497 and #393.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Olivia #3.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1978–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Olivia in 4.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #30 in 1980, Olivia #5 in 2000.
The order changed in 1990: Olivia moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #65 and #87; by 1990 that had become #63 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Olivia #5.
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 | Catherine | 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 | /əˈlɪviə/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Olivia has a recorded origin (Latin); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- A meaning is recorded for Olivia; Catherine 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 Catherine 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
Catherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #366 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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