Olivia vs Philippa
Olivia and Philippacompared 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, Olivia was ranked #1 and Philippa #377 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #1 and Philippa #541 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Olivia was ranked #3 and Philippa #434 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #8 and Philippa #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Olivia was ranked #39 and Philippa #92 among girls in New Zealand.
Olivia and Philippa over time
Olivia and Philippa appear together in 4 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Philippa in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Philippa 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 59 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Philippa fell — from #24 and #150 in 1996 to #1 and #377 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Olivia and Philippa were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 59 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #1 and #377.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Olivia #1 in 2024, Philippa #541 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls59 shared years, 1996–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Philippa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2008, Philippa #150 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Philippa #377.
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1968–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Philippa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #4 in 1975, Philippa #298 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #8, Philippa #544.
Scotland · Girls20 shared years, 2024–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Philippa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2024, Philippa #541 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Philippa #541.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1999–2018
Olivia held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Philippa in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #3 in 2016, Philippa #248 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Olivia #3, Philippa #434.
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 | Olivia | Philippa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /əˈlɪviə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Olivea, Liv, Livvy, Oliwia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Olivia has a recorded origin (Latin); Philippa does not have one recorded yet.
- Olivia and Philippa both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Olivia; Philippa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Olivia a "high" Data Confidence level and Philippa a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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
Philippa
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #86 among girls in New Zealand in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1956–1986
Highest recorded position: #69 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1956–1986).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls