Lilly vs Olivia
Lilly 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, Lilly was ranked #130 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lilly was ranked #138 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2017, Lilly was ranked #89 and Olivia #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Lilly was ranked #227 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lilly was ranked #38 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2022, Lilly was ranked #97 and Olivia #8 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lilly was ranked #141 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Lilly and Olivia over time
Lilly and Olivia appear together in 6 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Lilly in 0.
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.
Lilly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Lilly and Olivia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #38 and #2.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Lilly #39 in 2011, Olivia #1 in 2012.
List by list
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2025
Lilly held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Olivia in 35.
Highest recorded here: Lilly #30 in 2015, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order changed in 1992: Olivia moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #409 and #520; by 1992 that had become #610 and #393.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lilly #38, Olivia #2.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lilly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Lilly #27 in 2011, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lilly #130, Olivia #1.
Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1983–2025
Lilly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 27.
Highest recorded here: Lilly #75 in 2012, Olivia #7 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lilly #141, Olivia #8.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2005–2024
Lilly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 20.
Highest recorded here: Lilly #106 in 2011, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lilly #227, Olivia #2.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 2005–2022
Lilly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 18.
Highest recorded here: Lilly #39 in 2011, Olivia #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Lilly #97, Olivia #8.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 2003–2017
Lilly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Lilly #35 in 2009, Olivia #1 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Lilly #89, Olivia #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.
Side by side
| Field | Lilly | 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 | /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 #38 (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); Lilly does not have one recorded yet.
- Lilly has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- A meaning is recorded for Olivia; Lilly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Lilly 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
Lilly
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #150 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #27 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 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