Kim vs Oliver
Kim 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2015, Kim was ranked #4747 and Oliver #1 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Kim was ranked #370 and Oliver #2 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2005, Kim was ranked #518 and Oliver #113 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Kim and Oliver over time
Kim and Oliver appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Oliver held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kim in 1.
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.
Kim reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Oliver 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 1998, Oliver moved ahead of Kim in Norway · Boys — #75 and #103 the year before became #89 and #73.
- Mirrored each other
Over 56 shared years in Norway · Boys, Oliver rose about as far as Kim fell — from #154 and #478 in 1959 to #370 and #2 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Kim and Oliver were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 56 years, from 1959 to 2023, ending at #370 and #2.
List by list
Norway · Boys56 shared years, 1959–2023
Kim held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Oliver in 24.
Highest recorded here: Kim #10 in 1987, Oliver #1 in 2018.
The order changed in 1998: Oliver moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #75 and #103; by 1998 that had become #89 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kim #370, Oliver #2.
England and Wales · Boys17 shared years, 1996–2015
Kim held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 17.
Highest recorded here: Kim #1168 in 1996, Oliver #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Kim #4747, Oliver #1.
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1971–2005
Kim held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 8.
Highest recorded here: Kim #250 in 1985, Oliver #81 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Kim #518, Oliver #113.
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 | Kim | Oliver |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Old French |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɒlɪvər/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ollie, Olivier, Oliviero |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #736 (2024) | United Kingdom #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Oliver has a recorded origin (Old French); Kim does not have one recorded yet.
- Kim has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Oliver.
- A meaning is recorded for Oliver; Kim doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Kim
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #344 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–1985
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1958–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Oliver
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys