Namewise

Niamh vs Olivia

Niamh 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 2025, Niamh was ranked #208 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Niamh was ranked #76 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2000, Niamh was ranked #94 and Olivia #2 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

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

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Niamh was ranked #90 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Niamh and Olivia over time

Niamh and Olivia appear together in 3 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Niamh 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.

Niamh reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Olivia 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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2009, Olivia moved ahead of Niamh in Northern Ireland · Girls — #16 and #21 the year before became #19 and #17.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Niamh and Olivia averaged 19.9 places apart, ending at #47 and #2.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Niamh fell — from #120 and #24 in 1996 to #208 and #1 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Niamh and Olivia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #208 and #1.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Niamh held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Olivia in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Niamh #2 in 1993, Olivia #4 in 1975.

    The order changed in 2011: Olivia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #25 and #27; by 2011 that had become #30 and #28.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Niamh #90, Olivia #8.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Niamh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Niamh #40 in 2000, Olivia #1 in 2008.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Niamh #208, Olivia #1.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Niamh held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Olivia in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Niamh #5 in 2005, Olivia #2 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2009: Olivia moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #16 and #21; by 2009 that had become #19 and #17.

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

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 Niamh

Pairs where Niamh shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Olivia

Pairs where Olivia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Niamh, Olivia
FieldNiamhOlivia
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningTraditionally interpreted as 'bright' or 'radiant'. In Irish mythology, Niamh was daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir, who fell in love with the poet Oisín.Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'.
OriginIrish (mythological)Latin
Pronunciation/ˈnʲiːvˠ//əˈlɪviə/
Syllables13
Common variants / nicknamesNeve, NíamOlivea, Liv, Livvy, Oliwia
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #90 (2025)England and Wales · Girls #1 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighhigh

What the data shows

  • Niamh is recorded with a Irish (mythological) origin, while Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin.
  • Niamh has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Olivia.
  • Niamh's recorded meaning differs from Olivia's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Niamh

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #109 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · 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 recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls