Namewise

Maya vs Olivia

Maya 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, Maya was ranked #15 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Maya was ranked #19 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Maya was ranked #47 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Maya was ranked #86 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2025, Maya was ranked #53 and Olivia #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Maya was ranked #72 and Olivia #4 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Maya was ranked #40 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Maya and Olivia over time

Maya and Olivia appear together in 6 published lists, across 164 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Maya 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.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.

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 Maya in Norway · Girls — #85 and #130 the year before became #106 and #81.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Maya and Olivia changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #86 and #2.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Maya and Olivia averaged 52.0 places apart, ending at #53 and #3.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Maya and Olivia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #86 and #2.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Maya #47 in 2024, Olivia #2 in 2024.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls43 shared years, 19642025

    Maya held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Olivia in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #66 in 2016, Olivia #2 in 2023.

    The order changed in 2007: Olivia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #85 and #130; by 2007 that had become #106 and #81.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #86, Olivia #2.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Maya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #15 in 2024, Olivia #1 in 2008.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Maya #15, Olivia #1.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 19972025

    Maya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #17 in 2024, Olivia #7 in 2024.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #40, Olivia #8.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 20012025

    Maya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 25.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #28 in 2021, Olivia #1 in 2014.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #53, Olivia #3.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 19992024

    Maya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #47 in 2024, Olivia #2 in 2024.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Maya #47, Olivia #2.

  • New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 20032023

    Maya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Maya #68 in 2004, Olivia #1 in 2012.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Maya #72, 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

Side-by-side comparison of Maya, Olivia
FieldMayaOlivia
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedCommonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'.
OriginNot yet recordedLatin
PronunciationNot yet recorded/əˈlɪviə/
Syllables13
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedOlivea, Liv, Livvy, Oliwia
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 observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #40 (2025)Norway · Girls #2 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Olivia has a recorded origin (Latin); Maya does not have one recorded yet.
  • Maya has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Olivia.
  • A meaning is recorded for Olivia; Maya 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 Maya 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

Maya

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1961

    First recorded at #497 among girls in Norway in 1961 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

Olivia

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls