Mary vs Olivia
Mary 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, Mary was ranked #337 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Mary was ranked #315 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Mary was ranked #134 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Mary was ranked #518 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Mary was ranked #99 and Olivia #4 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Mary was ranked #112 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1991, Mary was ranked #89 and Olivia #17 among girls in New Zealand.
Mary and Olivia over time
Mary and Olivia appear together in 5 published lists, across 170 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Mary in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Mary reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Olivia 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 2007, Olivia moved ahead of Mary in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #52 and #55 the year before became #57 and #42.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Mary and Olivia changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1977 and 1991, ending at #89 and #17.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Mary fell — from #53 and #46 in 1997 to #134 and #2 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Mary and Olivia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 37 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #518 and #2.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Mary held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Olivia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Mary #1 in 1964, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order changed in 2007: Olivia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #52 and #55; by 2007 that had become #57 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mary #112, Olivia #8.
Norway · Girls37 shared years, 1964–2025
Mary held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Olivia in 24.
Highest recorded here: Mary #143 in 1964, Olivia #2 in 2025.
The order changed in 1997: Olivia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #314 and #316; by 1997 that had become #573 and #219.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mary #518, Olivia #2.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Mary held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Mary #118 in 1997, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mary #337, Olivia #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Mary held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 28.
Highest recorded here: Mary #53 in 1997, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mary #134, Olivia #2.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1977–1991
Mary held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Olivia in 12.
Highest recorded here: Mary #65 in 1980, Olivia #17 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Mary #89, Olivia #17.
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 | Mary | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Olivia has a recorded origin (Latin); Mary does not have one recorded yet.
- Mary has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- A meaning is recorded for Olivia; Mary doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Mary 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
Mary
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #67 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #518 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