Matthias vs Oliver
Matthias 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, Matthias was ranked #453 and Oliver #3 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Matthias was ranked #409 and Oliver #5 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Matthias was ranked #352 and Oliver #6 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Matthias was ranked #468 and Oliver #18 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Matthias and Oliver over time
Matthias and Oliver appear together in 3 published lists, across 83 years of shared records. Oliver held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Matthias 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.
Matthias reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Oliver 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Matthias and Oliver changed places 9 times in Norway · Boys between 1966 and 2025, ending at #409 and #5.
- Longest-running competitions
Matthias and Oliver were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 39 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #409 and #5.
List by list
Norway · Boys39 shared years, 1966–2025
Matthias held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Oliver in 33.
Highest recorded here: Matthias #367 in 1980, Oliver #1 in 2018.
The order changed in 1981: Oliver moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #367 and #439; by 1981 that had become #507 and #445.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matthias #409, Oliver #5.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Matthias held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 29.
Highest recorded here: Matthias #366 in 2022, Oliver #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matthias #453, Oliver #3.
Republic of Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 1964–2025
Matthias held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 15.
Highest recorded here: Matthias #232 in 1964, Oliver #18 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matthias #468, Oliver #18.
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 Oliver
Pairs where Oliver shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Barry
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #90 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2022 they were #6 and #414.
Oliver · Barry · 21 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Bradley
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #10 and #404.
Oliver · Bradley · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Calum
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #100 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 0 places apart; by 2024 they were #10 and #339.
Oliver · Calum · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Matthias | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈɒlɪvər/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ollie, Olivier, Oliviero |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #409 (2025) | United Kingdom #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 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); Matthias does not have one recorded yet.
- Matthias has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Oliver.
- A meaning is recorded for Oliver; Matthias doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Matthias
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #469 among boys in Norway in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #409 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