Holly vs Olivia
Holly 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, Holly was ranked #137 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #79 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2015, Holly was ranked #98 and Olivia #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #105 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2020, Holly was ranked #78 and Olivia #4 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #69 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Holly and Olivia over time
Holly and Olivia appear together in 5 published lists, across 168 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Holly in 0.
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.
Holly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Olivia moved ahead of Holly in England and Wales · Girls — #23 and #24 the year before became #23 and #19.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Holly and Olivia changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1983 and 2020, ending at #78 and #4.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Holly and Olivia averaged 38.6 places apart, ending at #137 and #1.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Holly fell — from #46 and #46 in 1997 to #105 and #2 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Holly and Olivia were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 37 years, from 1983 to 2020, ending at #78 and #4.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1976–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Olivia in 27.
Highest recorded here: Holly #11 in 2010, Olivia #7 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #69, Olivia #8.
New Zealand · Girls37 shared years, 1983–2020
Holly held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Olivia in 31.
Highest recorded here: Holly #16 in 1994, Olivia #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Holly #78, Olivia #4.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Holly held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Olivia in 28.
Highest recorded here: Holly #12 in 2002, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order changed in 1997: Olivia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #23 and #24; by 1997 that had become #23 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Holly #137, Olivia #1.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls28 shared years, 1983–2015
Holly held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Olivia in 26.
Highest recorded here: Holly #19 in 2003, Olivia #1 in 2014.
The order changed in 1990: Olivia moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #83 and #87; by 1990 that had become #79 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Holly #98, Olivia #2.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Holly held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Olivia in 23.
Highest recorded here: Holly #22 in 2003, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Holly #105, 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 | Holly | 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 | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Olivea, Liv, Livvy, Oliwia |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Olivia has a recorded origin (Latin); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Holly has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- A meaning is recorded for Olivia; Holly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Holly 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
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 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