Leo vs Oliver
Leo 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, Leo was ranked #5 and Oliver #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Leo was ranked #5 and Oliver #2 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #3 and Oliver #6 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #28 and Oliver #5 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Leo was ranked #5 and Oliver #7 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Leo was ranked #12 and Oliver #10 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Leo was ranked #10 and Oliver #18 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Leo and Oliver over time
Leo and Oliver appear together in 6 published lists, across 209 years of shared records. Oliver held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Leo 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.
Oliver reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Leo 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2022, Leo moved ahead of Oliver in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #29 and #25 the year before became #23 and #25.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Leo and Oliver changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1959 and 2025, ending at #28 and #5.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Leo and Oliver averaged 47.8 places apart, ending at #3 and #6.
- Longest-running competitions
Leo and Oliver were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3 and #6.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Oliver in 49.
Highest recorded here: Leo #10 in 2025, Oliver #14 in 1975.
The order changed in 2022: Leo moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #29 and #25; by 2022 that had become #23 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #10, Oliver #18.
Norway · Boys51 shared years, 1959–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Oliver in 48.
Highest recorded here: Leo #28 in 2025, Oliver #1 in 2018.
The order changed in 1990: Oliver moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #431 and #434; by 1990 that had become #378 and #231.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #28, Oliver #5.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Oliver in 29.
Highest recorded here: Leo #3 in 2025, Oliver #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #3, Oliver #6.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Leo held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Oliver in 27.
Highest recorded here: Leo #6 in 2023, Oliver #3 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Leo #12, Oliver #10.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 2003–2023
Leo held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 21.
Highest recorded here: Leo #3 in 2019, Oliver #1 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Leo #5, Oliver #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 2009–2025
Leo held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 17.
Highest recorded here: Leo #3 in 2022, Oliver #1 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Leo #5, 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 Leo
Pairs where Leo shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Leo vs Keith
In 1964 they stood at #101 and #96 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #10 and #577.
Leo · Keith · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Leo vs Jonathan
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leo rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #101 and #125 in 1964 to #10 and #223 in 2025.
Leo · Jonathan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Leo vs Marcus
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leo rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #101 and #136 in 1964 to #10 and #232 in 2025.
Leo · Marcus · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Leo vs Shane
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leo rose about as far as Shane fell — from #101 and #75 in 1964 to #10 and #152 in 2025.
Leo · Shane · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Oliver
Pairs where Oliver shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2022 they were #6 and #414.
Oliver · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Bradley
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #10 and #404.
Oliver · Bradley · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Calum
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #100 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2024 they were #10 and #339.
Oliver · Calum · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
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, 1946–2025 · 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, 1973–2025 · 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, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Michael vs Anthony
Michael and Anthony both fell over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Michael · Anthony · 74 shared years, 1952–2025 · 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.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Leo | Oliver |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Lion. | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated. |
| Origin | Latin | Old French |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːoʊ/ | /ˈɒlɪvər/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ollie, Olivier, Oliviero |
| 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 | England and Wales · Boys #3 (2025) | United Kingdom #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Leo is recorded with a Latin origin, while Oliver is recorded with a Old French origin.
- Leo has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Oliver.
- Leo's recorded meaning differs from Oliver's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Leo
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #303 among boys in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #6 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys