Morgan vs Oliver
Morgan 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, Morgan was ranked #334 and Oliver #3 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Morgan was ranked #411 and Oliver #5 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Morgan was ranked #414 and Oliver #6 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Morgan was ranked #478 and Oliver #7 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Morgan was ranked #577 and Oliver #18 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1987, Morgan was ranked #87 and Oliver #91 among boys in New Zealand.
Morgan and Oliver over time
Morgan and Oliver appear together in 4 published lists, across 168 years of shared records. Oliver held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Morgan 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.
Morgan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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
Morgan and Oliver changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1966 and 2025, ending at #411 and #5.
- Mirrored each other
Over 22 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Oliver rose about as far as Morgan fell — from #227 and #100 in 1997 to #414 and #6 in 2022.
- Longest-running competitions
Morgan and Oliver were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 55 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #411 and #5.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Morgan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Oliver in 55.
Highest recorded here: Morgan #105 in 2000, Oliver #14 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Morgan #577, Oliver #18.
Norway · Boys55 shared years, 1966–2025
Morgan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Oliver in 38.
Highest recorded here: Morgan #214 in 2006, Oliver #2 in 2013.
The order changed in 1990: Oliver moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #413 and #434; by 1990 that had become #471 and #231.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Morgan #411, Oliver #5.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Morgan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 29.
Highest recorded here: Morgan #52 in 1999, Oliver #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Morgan #334, Oliver #3.
Northern Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 1997–2022
Morgan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Oliver in 20.
Highest recorded here: Morgan #92 in 1999, Oliver #3 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Morgan #414, Oliver #6.
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 | Morgan | Oliver |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #411 (2025) | United Kingdom #1 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Morgan does not have one recorded yet.
- Morgan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Oliver.
- A meaning is recorded for Oliver; Morgan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Morgan
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #427 among boys in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #48 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #411 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