Julia vs Olivia
Julia 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, Julia was ranked #223 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #188 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #212 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Julia was ranked #85 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Julia was ranked #81 and Olivia #4 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2002, Julia was ranked #83 and Olivia #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Julia was ranked #118 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Julia and Olivia over time
Julia and Olivia appear together in 6 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Julia 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.
Julia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Olivia in 2. 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 2010, Olivia moved ahead of Julia in Norway · Girls — #42 and #44 the year before became #40 and #35.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Julia and Olivia changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1977 and 2001, ending at #81 and #4.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Julia and Olivia averaged 41.9 places apart, ending at #81 and #4.
- Longest-running competitions
Julia and Olivia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #85 and #2.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Julia #77 in 2010, Olivia #1 in 2008.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Julia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Olivia in 51.
Highest recorded here: Julia #31 in 2009, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order changed in 2010: Olivia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #31 and #39; by 2010 that had become #35 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julia #118, Olivia #8.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2025
Julia held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Olivia in 16.
Highest recorded here: Julia #32 in 2013, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order changed in 2010: Olivia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #42 and #44; by 2010 that had become #40 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julia #85, Olivia #2.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Julia held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Julia #77 in 2010, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julia #223, Olivia #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Julia held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 28.
Highest recorded here: Julia #68 in 2011, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julia #212, Olivia #2.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1977–2001
Julia held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Olivia in 18.
Highest recorded here: Julia #26 in 1983, Olivia #2 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Julia #81, Olivia #4.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1979–2002
Julia held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Olivia in 14.
Highest recorded here: Julia #70 in 1999, Olivia #5 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Julia #83, Olivia #6.
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 | Julia | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of the Roman family name Julius — borne by Julia Augusta and Julia the Elder, and by an early Christian martyr and patron saint of Corsica. | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ | /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 | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Julia is recorded with a The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to origin, while Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Julia has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- Julia'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 Julia 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
Julia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1970–2001
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1970–2001).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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