Namewise

Hugo vs Oliver

Hugo and Olivercompared 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.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2025, Hugo was ranked #18 and Oliver #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 2023, Hugo was ranked #23 and Oliver #2 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Hugo was ranked #101 and Oliver #5 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Hugo was ranked #46 and Oliver #6 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Hugo was ranked #135 and Oliver #7 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Hugo was ranked #81 and Oliver #10 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Hugo was ranked #42 and Oliver #18 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Hugo and Oliver over time

Hugo and Oliver appear together in 6 published lists, across 188 years of shared records. Oliver held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Hugo in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Oliver reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Hugo 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Hugo and Oliver changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1959 and 2025, ending at #101 and #5.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Hugo and Oliver were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #46 and #6.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Hugo #42 in 2025, Oliver #18 in 2025.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys58 shared years, 19592025

    Hugo held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Oliver in 41.

    Highest recorded here: Hugo #101 in 2025, Oliver #1 in 2018.

    The order changed in 1990: Oliver moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #427 and #434; by 1990 that had become #397 and #231.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugo #101, Oliver #5.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys49 shared years, 19692025

    Hugo held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 49.

    Highest recorded here: Hugo #42 in 2025, Oliver #18 in 2025.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugo #42, Oliver #18.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 19962025

    Hugo held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Hugo #45 in 2021, Oliver #1 in 2009.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugo #46, Oliver #6.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 20002024

    Hugo held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Hugo #67 in 2023, Oliver #3 in 2016.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Hugo #81, Oliver #10.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 20092025

    Hugo held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Hugo #18 in 2025, Oliver #1 in 2014.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hugo #18, Oliver #2.

  • New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 20092023

    Hugo held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Hugo #23 in 2023, Oliver #1 in 2013.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Hugo #23, Oliver #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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Hugo

Pairs where Hugo shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Oliver

Pairs where Oliver shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 19462025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 19592025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 19732025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 19722025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Hugo, Oliver
FieldHugoOliver
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedCommonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated.
OriginNot yet recordedOld French
Pronunciation/ˈɒlɪvər/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedOllie, Olivier, Oliviero
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNew South Wales, Australia · Boys #18 (2025)United Kingdom #1 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Oliver has a recorded origin (Old French); Hugo does not have one recorded yet.
  • Hugo has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Oliver.
  • A meaning is recorded for Oliver; Hugo doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Hugo

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #186 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2009–2025

    Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2009–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #46 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Oliver

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1959

    First recorded at #478 among boys in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #6 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys