Matilda vs Olivia
Matilda 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, Matilda was ranked #31 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #148 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #110 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #150 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #16 and Olivia #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Matilda was ranked #27 and Olivia #4 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #106 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Matilda and Olivia over time
Matilda and Olivia appear together in 6 published lists, across 147 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Matilda in 0.
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.
Olivia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Matilda 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Matilda and Olivia averaged 19.4 places apart, ending at #16 and #3.
- Mirrored each other
Over 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Matilda rose about as far as Olivia fell — from #81 and #2 in 2004 to #16 and #3 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Matilda and Olivia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #106 and #8.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Matilda #145 in 2023, Olivia #2 in 2023.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1965–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 33.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #97 in 2016, Olivia #7 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #106, Olivia #8.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #25 in 2016, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matilda #31, Olivia #1.
Norway · Girls29 shared years, 1987–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Olivia in 27.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #145 in 2023, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order changed in 1993: Olivia moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #517 and #520; by 1993 that had become #657 and #281.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #150, Olivia #2.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 2004–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 22.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #8 in 2022, Olivia #1 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #16, Olivia #3.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 20.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #91 in 2017, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matilda #110, Olivia #2.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2009–2023
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 14.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #20 in 2021, Olivia #1 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Matilda #27, Olivia #4.
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 | Matilda | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | Germanic | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /məˈtɪldə/ | /əˈlɪviə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Tilly, Mathilde | 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 | United Kingdom #8 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Matilda is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Matilda and Olivia both have 3 syllables.
- Matilda'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.
How each name got here
Matilda
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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