Lisa vs Olivia
Lisa 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, Lisa was ranked #795 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lisa was ranked #790 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lisa was ranked #174 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Lisa was ranked #336 and Olivia #5 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1997, Lisa was ranked #85 and Olivia #8 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lisa was ranked #443 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1997, Lisa was ranked #100 and Olivia #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Lisa and Olivia over time
Lisa and Olivia appear together in 6 published lists, across 186 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Olivia 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.
Lisa 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Olivia moved into the top 50 at #33 in 1993 as Lisa fell out of it to #59, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1993, Olivia moved ahead of Lisa in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #35 and #37 the year before became #59 and #33.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lisa and Olivia changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #443 and #8.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Lisa and Olivia averaged 48.6 places apart, ending at #85 and #8.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Lisa fell — from #222 and #171 in 1964 to #443 and #8 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Lisa and Olivia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #174 and #2.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Lisa held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Olivia in 27.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #3 in 1984, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lisa #443, Olivia #8.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2025
Lisa held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Olivia in 18.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #37 in 1994, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order changed in 2008: Olivia moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #65 and #81; by 2008 that had become #73 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lisa #174, Olivia #2.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lisa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #105 in 1996, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lisa #795, Olivia #1.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1977–1997
Lisa held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Olivia in 7.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #4 in 1979, Olivia #6 in 1995.
The order changed in 1991: Olivia moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #25 and #35; by 1991 that had become #31 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Lisa #85, Olivia #8.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2019
Lisa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 17.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #63 in 1997, Olivia #5 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Lisa #336, Olivia #5.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1978–1997
Lisa held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Olivia in 5.
Highest recorded here: Lisa #5 in 1978, Olivia #19 in 1997.
The order changed in 1993: Olivia moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #35 and #37; by 1993 that had become #59 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Lisa #100, Olivia #19.
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 | Lisa | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliː.sə/ | /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 #174 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (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 | high |
What the data shows
- Lisa is recorded with a Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth origin, while Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Lisa has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- Lisa'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, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Lisa 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
Lisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1997
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 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