Olivia vs Rebecca
Olivia and Rebeccacompared 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 Rebecca #315 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #1 and Rebecca #431 among girls in Scotland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2011, Olivia was ranked #2 and Rebecca #85 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #2 and Rebecca #337 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #2 and Rebecca #485 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Olivia was ranked #4 and Rebecca #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #8 and Rebecca #141 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Olivia and Rebecca over time
Olivia and Rebecca appear together in 7 published lists, across 255 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Rebecca in 3.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Rebecca 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 1999, Olivia moved ahead of Rebecca in England and Wales · Girls — #16 and #9 the year before became #4 and #9.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Olivia and Rebecca changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #8 and #141.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Olivia and Rebecca averaged 50.7 places apart, ending at #4 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Olivia and Rebecca were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 49 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #1 and #315.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Olivia #1 in 2024, Rebecca #431 in 2024.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Rebecca in 33.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #4 in 1975, Rebecca #7 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #8, Rebecca #141.
England and Wales · Girls49 shared years, 1996–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Rebecca in 3.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2008, Rebecca #8 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Olivia moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #16 and #9; by 1999 that had become #4 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Rebecca #315.
Norway · Girls41 shared years, 1975–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Rebecca in 20.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2023, Rebecca #55 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Olivia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #155 and #116; by 2004 that had become #124 and #125.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #2, Rebecca #485.
New Zealand · Girls35 shared years, 1977–2011
Olivia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Rebecca in 18.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2000, Rebecca #2 in 1977.
The order changed in 1995: Olivia moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #8 and #7; by 1995 that had become #6 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Olivia #2, Rebecca #85.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Rebecca in 11.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2024, Rebecca #2 in 1999.
The order changed in 2008: Olivia moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #25 and #19; by 2008 that had become #21 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #2, Rebecca #337.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1978–2008
Olivia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Rebecca in 14.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2004, Rebecca #1 in 1978.
The order changed in 1998: Olivia moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #19 and #9; by 1998 that had become #7 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Olivia #4, Rebecca #94.
Scotland · Girls15 shared years, 2024–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Rebecca in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2024, Rebecca #431 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Rebecca #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 | Rebecca |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. | Traditionally associated with concepts of 'joining', 'tying', or a 'team/yoke' — a binding or connecting sense, from a Semitic root about fastening things together. |
| Origin | Latin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka |
| Pronunciation | /əˈlɪviə/ | /rəˈbɛkə/ |
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin, while Rebecca is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka origin.
- Olivia and Rebecca both have 3 syllables.
- Olivia's recorded meaning differs from Rebecca'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 Rebecca 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
Rebecca
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #440 among girls in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2008
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1966–2008).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #485 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls