Kayla vs Olivia
Kayla 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, Kayla was ranked #332 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Kayla was ranked #171 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Kayla was ranked #89 and Olivia #2 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kayla was ranked #253 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2012, Kayla was ranked #83 and Olivia #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kayla was ranked #130 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Kayla and Olivia over time
Kayla and Olivia appear together in 5 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kayla 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.
Kayla reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 1992, Olivia moved ahead of Kayla in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #28 and #36 the year before became #38 and #37.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kayla and Olivia averaged 37.0 places apart, ending at #83 and #4.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Kayla fell — from #38 and #39 in 1986 to #89 and #2 in 2014.
- Longest-running competitions
Kayla and Olivia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #130 and #8.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1991–2025
Kayla held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Olivia in 32.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #21 in 2011, Olivia #7 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kayla #130, Olivia #8.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Kayla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #98 in 2011, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kayla #332, Olivia #1.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1986–2014
Kayla held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Olivia in 28.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #18 in 1992, Olivia #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 1987: Olivia moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #38 and #39; by 1987 that had become #44 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Kayla #89, Olivia #2.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024
Kayla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 27.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #40 in 2011, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kayla #253, Olivia #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1990–2012
Kayla held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Olivia in 21.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #28 in 1990, Olivia #2 in 2004.
The order changed in 1992: Olivia moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #28 and #36; by 1992 that had become #38 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Kayla #83, 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 | Kayla | 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 | Not yet recorded | /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 #130 (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); Kayla does not have one recorded yet.
- Kayla has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- A meaning is recorded for Olivia; Kayla 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 Kayla 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
Kayla
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2014
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1986–2014).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #130 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