Oliver vs Peter
Oliver and Petercompared 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, Oliver was ranked #3 and Peter #286 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Oliver was ranked #5 and Peter #174 among boys in Norway.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Oliver was ranked #6 and Peter #94 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Oliver was ranked #7 and Peter #181 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Oliver was ranked #10 and Peter #164 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2006, Oliver was ranked #18 and Peter #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Oliver was ranked #18 and Peter #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Oliver and Peter over time
Oliver and Peter appear together in 6 published lists, across 241 years of shared records. Peter held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Oliver in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Peter reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Oliver in none. 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Oliver moved into the top 50 at #49 in 1995 as Peter fell out of it to #53, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Oliver moved ahead of Peter in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #55 and #54 the year before became #44 and #64.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Oliver and Peter averaged 42.9 places apart, ending at #6 and #94.
- Mirrored each other
Over 60 shared years in Norway · Boys, Oliver rose about as far as Peter fell — from #478 and #99 in 1959 to #5 and #174 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Oliver and Peter were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 52 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #3 and #286.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Oliver held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Peter in 44.
Highest recorded here: Oliver #14 in 1975, Peter #13 in 1964.
The order changed in 2009: Oliver moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #83 and #70; by 2009 that had become #62 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Oliver #18, Peter #152.
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1959–2025
Oliver held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Peter in 32.
Highest recorded here: Oliver #1 in 2018, Peter #72 in 1987.
The order changed in 1998: Oliver moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #103 and #93; by 1998 that had become #73 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Oliver #5, Peter #174.
England and Wales · Boys52 shared years, 1996–2024
Oliver held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Peter in 0.
Highest recorded here: Oliver #1 in 2009, Peter #59 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Oliver #3, Peter #286.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Oliver held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Peter in 10.
Highest recorded here: Oliver #3 in 2016, Peter #22 in 1998.
The order changed in 2007: Oliver moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #53 and #44; by 2007 that had become #28 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Oliver #10, Peter #164.
New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1983–2007
Oliver held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Peter in 11.
Highest recorded here: Oliver #6 in 2007, Peter #29 in 1987.
The order changed in 1995: Oliver moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #54 and #39; by 1995 that had become #49 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Oliver #6, Peter #94.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1989–2006
Oliver held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Peter in 10.
Highest recorded here: Oliver #18 in 2006, Peter #26 in 1989.
The order changed in 2000: Oliver moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #55 and #54; by 2000 that had become #44 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Oliver #18, Peter #83.
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 | Oliver | Peter |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated. | From Greek Petros ('stone'), a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon. |
| Origin | Old French | Greek/Aramaic, biblical |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɒlɪvər/ | /ˈpit.əɹ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ollie, Olivier, Oliviero | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Oliver is recorded with a Old French origin, while Peter is recorded with a Greek/Aramaic, biblical origin.
- Oliver has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Peter.
- Oliver's recorded meaning differs from Peter's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Peter
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #106 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2006
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–2006).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys