Namewise

Martin vs Oliver

Martin 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.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Martin was ranked #346 and Oliver #3 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Martin was ranked #69 and Oliver #5 among boys in Norway.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Martin was ranked #352 and Oliver #7 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Martin was ranked #216 and Oliver #10 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Martin was ranked #102 and Oliver #18 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1992, Martin was ranked #99 and Oliver #71 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1992, Martin was ranked #97 and Oliver #88 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

Martin and Oliver over time

Martin and Oliver appear together in 4 published lists, across 179 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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.

Martin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 2002, Oliver moved ahead of Martin in Northern Ireland · Boys — #72 and #74 the year before became #100 and #67.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Martin and Oliver were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 60 years, from 1959 to 2025, ending at #69 and #5.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Martin held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Oliver in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #9 in 1964, Oliver #14 in 1975.

    The order changed in 2009: Oliver moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #81 and #83; by 2009 that had become #74 and #62.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Martin #102, Oliver #18.

  • Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1959–2025

    Martin held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Oliver in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #1 in 1992, Oliver #1 in 2018.

    The order changed in 2008: Oliver moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #8 and #14; by 2008 that had become #13 and #3.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Martin #69, Oliver #5.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Martin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #109 in 1996, Oliver #1 in 2009.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Martin #346, Oliver #3.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Martin held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Oliver in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Martin #49 in 1997, Oliver #3 in 2016.

    The order changed in 2002: Oliver moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #72 and #74; by 2002 that had become #100 and #67.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Martin #216, Oliver #10.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Martin

Pairs where Martin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Oliver

Pairs where Oliver shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from Norway lists

Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Martin, Oliver
FieldMartinOliver
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom the Roman name Martinus, connected to Mars, the Roman god of war. Widely known through Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop and patron saint of France.Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated.
OriginLatin (Ancient Roman)Old French
Pronunciation/ˈmɑɹ.tɪn//ˈɒlɪvər/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedOllie, Olivier, Oliviero
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #69 (2025)United Kingdom #1 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Martin is recorded with a Latin (Ancient Roman) origin, while Oliver is recorded with a Old French origin.
  • Martin has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Oliver.
  • Martin's recorded meaning differs from Oliver's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Martin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #83 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Oliver

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys