Louise vs Olivia
Louise 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 2025, Louise was ranked #816 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Louise was ranked #476 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Louise was ranked #59 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Louise was ranked #296 and Olivia #3 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1994, Louise was ranked #100 and Olivia #8 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Louise was ranked #213 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1995, Louise was ranked #100 and Olivia #27 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Louise and Olivia over time
Louise and Olivia appear together in 6 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Louise in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Louise reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Olivia in 2. 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 Northern Ireland · Girls, Olivia moved into the top 50 at #33 in 2003 as Louise fell out of it to #57, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1990, Olivia moved ahead of Louise in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #73 and #87 the year before became #75 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Louise and Olivia changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #59 and #2.
- Longest-running competitions
Louise and Olivia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #816 and #1.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Louise #59 in 2025, Olivia #2 in 2023.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Louise held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Olivia in 24.
Highest recorded here: Louise #5 in 1980, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order changed in 2004: Olivia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #56 and #72; by 2004 that had become #69 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louise #213, Olivia #8.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2025
Louise held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Olivia in 22.
Highest recorded here: Louise #59 in 2025, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louise #59, Olivia #2.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Louise held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Louise #44 in 1996, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Louise #816, Olivia #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Louise held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Olivia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Louise #33 in 1997, Olivia #3 in 2016.
The order changed in 2003: Olivia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #38 and #39; by 2003 that had become #57 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Louise #296, Olivia #3.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1977–1994
Louise held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Olivia in 11.
Highest recorded here: Louise #27 in 1980, Olivia #8 in 1994.
The order changed in 1984: Olivia moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #34 and #57; by 1984 that had become #52 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Louise #100, Olivia #8.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1978–1995
Louise held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Olivia in 4.
Highest recorded here: Louise #35 in 1983, Olivia #27 in 1995.
The order changed in 1990: Olivia moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #73 and #87; by 1990 that had become #75 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Louise #100, Olivia #27.
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 | Louise | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Louis, from Germanic elements 'hlud' (famous) and 'wig' (warrior) — 'famous warrior'. | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | Germanic, via French transmission | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /lu.ˈiz/ | /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 #59 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Louise is recorded with a Germanic, via French transmission origin, while Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Louise has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- Louise'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 Louise 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
Louise
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1980 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #816 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls