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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Oliver was ranked #3 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Oliver was ranked #5 and Simon #159 among boys in Norway.
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 220 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In Norway · Boys, Oliver moved into the top 50 at #43 in 2002 as Simon fell out of it to #51, having been #38 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1994, Oliver moved ahead of Simon in New Zealand · Boys — #59 and #54 the year before became #54 and #58.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Oliver and Simon changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #18 and #244.
- Longest-running competitions
Oliver and Simon were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 52 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #3 and #524.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2022 they were #6 and #311.
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 · Boys52 shared years, 1996–2024
Oliver held the stronger position in 52 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, 2024: Oliver #3, Simon #524.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Oliver | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Old French | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɒlɪvər/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| 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 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
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
Simon
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys