Oliver vs Tommy
Oliver and Tommycompared 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 2024, Oliver was ranked #1 and Tommy #503 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Oliver was ranked #2 and Tommy #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Oliver was ranked #2 and Tommy #68 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Oliver was ranked #3 and Tommy #39 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Oliver was ranked #7 and Tommy #20 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Oliver was ranked #10 and Tommy #20 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Oliver was ranked #18 and Tommy #27 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Oliver and Tommy over time
Oliver and Tommy appear together in 4 published lists, across 188 years of shared records. Oliver held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tommy 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1998, Oliver moved ahead of Tommy in Norway · Boys — #103 and #78 the year before became #73 and #94.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 64 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Oliver and Tommy averaged 54.2 places apart, ending at #3 and #39.
- Longest-running competitions
Oliver and Tommy were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 64 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #3 and #39.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Oliver #18 in 2025, Tommy #21 in 2023.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys64 shared years, 1996–2024
Oliver held the stronger position in 64 of those years, Tommy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Oliver #1 in 2009, Tommy #22 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Oliver #3, Tommy #39.
Norway · Boys59 shared years, 1959–2024
Oliver held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Tommy in 32.
Highest recorded here: Oliver #1 in 2018, Tommy #11 in 1976.
The order changed in 1998: Oliver moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #103 and #78; by 1998 that had become #73 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Oliver #1, Tommy #503.
Republic of Ireland · Boys43 shared years, 1980–2025
Oliver held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Tommy in 2.
Highest recorded here: Oliver #18 in 2025, Tommy #21 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Oliver #18, Tommy #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 1999–2024
Oliver held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Tommy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Oliver #3 in 2016, Tommy #11 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Oliver #10, Tommy #20.
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 | Tommy |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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 #27 (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); Tommy does not have one recorded yet.
- Oliver has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Tommy.
- A meaning is recorded for Oliver; Tommy 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
Tommy
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #268 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1999–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys