Namewise

Oliver vs Simon

Oliver and Simoncompared 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.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Oliver was ranked #5 and Simon #159 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Oliver was ranked #6 and Simon #606 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Oliver was ranked #6 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Oliver was ranked #7 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Oliver was ranked #18 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1997, Oliver was ranked #45 and Simon #83 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1997, Oliver was ranked #68 and Simon #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

Oliver and Simon over time

Oliver and Simon appear together in 6 published lists, across 198 years of shared records. Simon held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Oliver in 2.

The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Simon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Oliver held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Simon in 35.

    Highest recorded here: Oliver #14 in 1975, Simon #46 in 1987.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Oliver #18, Simon #244.

  • Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1959–2025

    Oliver held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Simon in 36.

    Highest recorded here: Oliver #1 in 2018, Simon #35 in 1992.

    The order changed in 2002: Oliver moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #49 and #38; by 2002 that had become #43 and #51.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Oliver #5, Simon #159.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Oliver held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Simon in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Oliver #1 in 2009, Simon #87 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Oliver #6, Simon #606.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022

    Oliver held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Simon in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Oliver #6 in 2015, Simon #95 in 2000.

    The order changed in 2001: Oliver moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #95 and #95; by 2001 that had become #74 and #120.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Oliver #6, Simon #311.

  • New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1983–1997

    Oliver held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Simon in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Oliver #45 in 1997, Simon #21 in 1986.

    The order changed in 1994: Oliver moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #59 and #54; by 1994 that had become #54 and #58.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Oliver #45, Simon #83.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 1989–1997

    Oliver held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Simon in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Oliver #68 in 1997, Simon #41 in 1989.

    The order changed in 1995: Oliver moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #72 and #70; by 1995 that had become #71 and #94.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Oliver #68, Simon #94.

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 Oliver

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

Other comparisons involving Simon

Pairs where Simon 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

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

Northern Ireland 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 Oliver, Simon
FieldOliverSimon
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningCommonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated.Not yet recorded
OriginOld FrenchNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɒlɪvər/Not yet recorded
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesOllie, Olivier, OlivieroNot yet recorded
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 observationUnited Kingdom #1 (2025)Norway · Boys #159 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Oliver has a recorded origin (Old French); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
  • Oliver has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Simon.
  • A meaning is recorded for Oliver; Simon doesn't have one written yet.
  • 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #6 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Simon

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–1997

    Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #606 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys