Marcus vs Oliver
Marcus 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 Zealand · Boys
In 2014, Marcus was ranked #90 and Oliver #1 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #93 and Oliver #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #233 and Oliver #3 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Marcus was ranked #150 and Oliver #5 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #176 and Oliver #7 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Marcus was ranked #144 and Oliver #10 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Marcus was ranked #232 and Oliver #18 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Marcus and Oliver over time
Marcus and Oliver appear together in 6 published lists, across 215 years of shared records. Oliver held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Marcus 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.
Marcus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Oliver 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 2003, Oliver moved ahead of Marcus in Norway · Boys — #24 and #43 the year before became #34 and #27.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Marcus and Oliver changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #232 and #18.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Marcus and Oliver averaged 58.6 places apart, ending at #93 and #2.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Oliver rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #136 and #68 in 1964 to #232 and #18 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Marcus and Oliver were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 59 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #150 and #5.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Marcus held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Oliver in 54.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #99 in 1972, Oliver #14 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Marcus #232, Oliver #18.
Norway · Boys59 shared years, 1966–2025
Marcus held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Oliver in 23.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #24 in 2001, Oliver #1 in 2018.
The order changed in 2003: Oliver moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #24 and #43; by 2003 that had become #34 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Marcus #150, Oliver #5.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 29.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #83 in 2001, Oliver #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #233, Oliver #3.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Oliver in 27.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #100 in 2003, Oliver #3 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #144, Oliver #10.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1995–2024
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 25.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #49 in 2010, Oliver #1 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Marcus #93, Oliver #2.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1983–2014
Marcus held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 12.
Highest recorded here: Marcus #78 in 2010, Oliver #1 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Marcus #90, Oliver #1.
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 | Marcus | Oliver |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Old French |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɒlɪvər/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) | United Kingdom #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Marcus has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Oliver.
- A meaning is recorded for Oliver; Marcus doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
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