Katie vs Olivia
Katie 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, Katie was ranked #547 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katie was ranked #131 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Katie was ranked #94 and Olivia #2 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katie was ranked #47 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2009, Katie was ranked #92 and Olivia #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katie was ranked #41 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Katie and Olivia over time
Katie and Olivia appear together in 5 published lists, across 166 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Katie 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.
Katie 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Olivia moved into the top 50 at #43 in 1990 as Katie fell out of it to #54, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1999, Olivia moved ahead of Katie in England and Wales · Girls — #13 and #16 the year before became #15 and #4.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katie and Olivia changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1977 and 2014, ending at #94 and #2.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katie and Olivia averaged 55.0 places apart, ending at #92 and #4.
- Mirrored each other
Over 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Katie fell — from #53 and #66 in 1978 to #92 and #4 in 2009.
- Longest-running competitions
Katie and Olivia were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 36 years, from 1977 to 2014, ending at #94 and #2.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1973–2025
Katie held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Olivia in 20.
Highest recorded here: Katie #2 in 2004, Olivia #7 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katie #41, Olivia #8.
New Zealand · Girls36 shared years, 1977–2014
Katie held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Olivia in 26.
Highest recorded here: Katie #33 in 1981, Olivia #2 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Katie #94, Olivia #2.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Katie held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Olivia in 26.
Highest recorded here: Katie #9 in 2004, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order changed in 1999: Olivia moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #13 and #16; by 1999 that had become #15 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katie #547, Olivia #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Katie held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Olivia in 12.
Highest recorded here: Katie #1 in 2004, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order changed in 2014: Olivia moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #12 and #15; by 2014 that had become #13 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katie #47, Olivia #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1978–2009
Katie held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Olivia in 17.
Highest recorded here: Katie #32 in 1983, Olivia #4 in 2008.
The order changed in 1990: Olivia moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #39 and #87; by 1990 that had become #54 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Katie #92, Olivia #4.
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 | Katie | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Kate, itself a short form of Katherine. | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | Greek, diminutive form | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkeɪ.ti/ | /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 #41 (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
- Katie is recorded with a Greek, diminutive form origin, while Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Katie has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- Katie'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, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Katie 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
Katie
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #508 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #41 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