Maria vs Olivia
Maria 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, Maria was ranked #91 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2016, Maria was ranked #78 and Olivia #1 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #120 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maria was ranked #97 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #62 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maria was ranked #74 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1983, Maria was ranked #98 and Olivia #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Maria and Olivia over time
Maria and Olivia appear together in 5 published lists, across 195 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Maria 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.
Maria reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1983, Olivia moved ahead of Maria in New Zealand · Girls — #61 and #80 the year before became #72 and #57.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maria and Olivia changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #74 and #8.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Maria and Olivia averaged 56.3 places apart, ending at #78 and #1.
- Mirrored each other
Over 33 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Maria fell — from #36 and #70 in 1977 to #78 and #1 in 2016.
- Longest-running competitions
Maria and Olivia were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 33 years, from 1977 to 2016, ending at #78 and #1.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Olivia in 24.
Highest recorded here: Maria #23 in 1967, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order changed in 2005: Olivia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #55 and #69; by 2005 that had become #58 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #74, Olivia #8.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2025
Maria held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Olivia in 13.
Highest recorded here: Maria #3 in 1982, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order changed in 2013: Olivia moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #16 and #21; by 2013 that had become #17 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maria #62, Olivia #2.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1977–2016
Maria held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Olivia in 27.
Highest recorded here: Maria #36 in 1977, Olivia #1 in 2012.
The order changed in 1983: Olivia moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #61 and #80; by 1983 that had become #72 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Maria #78, Olivia #1.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Maria #66 in 2018, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #91, Olivia #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Maria held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 28.
Highest recorded here: Maria #49 in 2009, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maria #97, 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 | Maria | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ | /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 #62 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Maria is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission origin, while Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Maria has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- Maria'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 Maria 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
Maria
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1982 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #62 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