Olivia vs Rachel
Olivia and Rachelcompared 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 Rachel #377 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #1 and Rachel #431 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #3 and Rachel #472 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2006, Olivia was ranked #5 and Rachel #98 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Olivia was ranked #5 and Rachel #142 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2007, Olivia was ranked #6 and Rachel #71 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #8 and Rachel #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Olivia and Rachel over time
Olivia and Rachel appear together in 7 published lists, across 264 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Rachel in 3.
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.
Rachel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Olivia moved ahead of Rachel in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #22 and #21 the year before became #19 and #20.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Olivia and Rachel changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #8 and #186.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Olivia and Rachel averaged 41.0 places apart, ending at #6 and #71.
- Mirrored each other
Over 36 shared years in Norway · Girls, Olivia rose about as far as Rachel fell — from #617 and #278 in 1975 to #3 and #472 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Olivia and Rachel were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 63 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, Rachel #431 in 2024.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #24 and #27 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #1 and #377.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls63 shared years, 1996–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 63 of those years, Rachel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2008, Rachel #27 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Rachel #377.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Rachel in 42.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #4 in 1975, Rachel #6 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #8, Rachel #186.
Norway · Girls36 shared years, 1975–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Rachel in 11.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2023, Rachel #244 in 1978.
The order changed in 1997: Olivia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #316 and #275; by 1997 that had become #219 and #308.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #3, Rachel #472.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1977–2006
Olivia held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Rachel in 16.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2000, Rachel #7 in 1977.
The order changed in 1993: Olivia moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #17 and #14; by 1993 that had become #13 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2006: Olivia #5, Rachel #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2023
Olivia held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Rachel in 9.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #3 in 2016, Rachel #7 in 2003.
The order changed in 2006: Olivia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #35 and #15; by 2006 that had become #23 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Olivia #5, Rachel #142.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1978–2007
Olivia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Rachel in 13.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2004, Rachel #10 in 1991.
The order changed in 1997: Olivia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #22 and #21; by 1997 that had become #19 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Olivia #6, Rachel #71.
Scotland · Girls22 shared years, 2024–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Rachel in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2024, Rachel #431 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Rachel #431.
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 | Rachel |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. | Commonly interpreted as 'ewe' (female sheep), the biblical wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin. |
| Origin | Latin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel |
| Pronunciation | /əˈlɪviə/ | /ˈreɪtʃəl/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Olivea, Liv, Livvy, Oliwia | 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 | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #186 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin, while Rachel is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhakhel origin.
- Olivia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Rachel.
- Olivia's recorded meaning differs from Rachel's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Olivia a "high" Data Confidence level and Rachel 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
Rachel
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #379 among girls in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1965–2006
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1965–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #186 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls