Nora vs Olivia
Nora 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, Nora was ranked #86 and Olivia #1 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Nora was ranked #72 and Olivia #1 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Nora was ranked #44 and Olivia #2 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Nora was ranked #3 and Olivia #2 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Nora was ranked #52 and Olivia #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Nora was ranked #76 and Olivia #8 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Nora and Olivia over time
Nora and Olivia appear together in 4 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Nora in 1.
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.
Nora 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 1991, Olivia moved ahead of Nora in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #124 and #131 the year before became #130 and #91.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nora and Olivia changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #76 and #8.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Nora fell — from #30 and #171 in 1964 to #76 and #8 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Nora and Olivia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 43 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #3 and #2.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Nora #44 in 2024, Olivia #2 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Nora held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Olivia in 49.
Highest recorded here: Nora #22 in 1965, Olivia #4 in 1975.
The order changed in 1991: Olivia moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #124 and #131; by 1991 that had become #130 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nora #76, Olivia #8.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2025
Nora held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Olivia in 2.
Highest recorded here: Nora #1 in 2014, Olivia #2 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nora #3, Olivia #2.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nora held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Nora #86 in 2024, Olivia #1 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nora #86, Olivia #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2024
Nora held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Olivia in 17.
Highest recorded here: Nora #44 in 2024, Olivia #2 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nora #44, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Nora | Olivia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of the names Honora (linked to Latin 'honor') or Eleanor — not an independently rooted name; Behind the Name does not specify which is the 'true' source for any given historical bearer. | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. |
| Origin | English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɔrə/ | /əˈlɪviə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Olivea, Liv, Livvy, Oliwia |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #3 (2025) | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Nora is recorded with a English/Irish, short form of Honora or Eleanor origin, while Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Nora has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Olivia.
- Nora'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.
- The available evidence gives Nora 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
Nora
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2014 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 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