Hannah vs Olivia
Hannah 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, Hannah was ranked #107 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hannah was ranked #66 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Hannah was ranked #57 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #116 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #73 and Olivia #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Hannah was ranked #77 and Olivia #4 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #21 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Hannah and Olivia over time
Hannah and Olivia appear together in 6 published lists, across 244 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Hannah in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Hannah 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 2003, Olivia moved ahead of Hannah in England and Wales · Girls — #8 and #9 the year before became #10 and #8.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hannah and Olivia changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1978 and 2023, ending at #77 and #4.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Hannah and Olivia averaged 37.9 places apart, ending at #107 and #1.
- Longest-running competitions
Hannah and Olivia were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 38 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #73 and #3.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Olivia in 21.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #5 in 2019, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order changed in 2024: Olivia moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #12 and #17; by 2024 that had become #20 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #21, Olivia #8.
New Zealand · Girls46 shared years, 1978–2023
Hannah held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Olivia in 24.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #2 in 1996, Olivia #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Hannah #77, Olivia #4.
Norway · Girls41 shared years, 1978–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Olivia in 17.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #25 in 2005, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #116, Olivia #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls38 shared years, 1983–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #8 in 1997, Olivia #1 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #73, Olivia #3.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Hannah held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Olivia in 24.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1996, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order changed in 2003: Olivia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #8 and #9; by 2003 that had become #10 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hannah #107, Olivia #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Hannah held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Olivia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1998, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order changed in 2010: Olivia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #13 and #17; by 2010 that had become #13 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hannah #57, 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 | Hannah | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'favour' or 'grace', referring to graciousness. | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhænə/ | /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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #21 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Hannah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Hannah has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- Hannah'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 Hannah 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
Hannah
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 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 recorded1978–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1978–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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