Olivia vs Ruby
Olivia and Rubycompared 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 Ruby #41 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #1 and Ruby #34 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #2 and Ruby #38 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #2 and Ruby #450 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #3 and Ruby #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Olivia was ranked #4 and Ruby #17 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #8 and Ruby #36 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Olivia and Ruby over time
Olivia and Ruby appear together in 6 published lists, across 186 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Ruby in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Ruby reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Olivia in none. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Olivia and Ruby changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1992 and 2023, ending at #4 and #17.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 49 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Olivia and Ruby averaged 35.2 places apart, ending at #1 and #41.
- Longest-running competitions
Olivia and Ruby were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 49 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #1 and #41.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Olivia #1 in 2008, Ruby #1 in 2007.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls49 shared years, 1996–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Ruby in 1.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2008, Ruby #1 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Ruby #41.
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1991–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Ruby in 8.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #7 in 2024, Ruby #16 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #8, Ruby #36.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1992–2023
Olivia held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Ruby in 3.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2012, Ruby #1 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Olivia #4, Ruby #17.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1997–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Ruby in 3.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2014, Ruby #2 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #3, Ruby #28.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Ruby in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2024, Ruby #18 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #2, Ruby #38.
Scotland · Girls15 shared years, 2024–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Ruby in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2024, Ruby #34 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Ruby #34.
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 | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. | Taken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century. |
| Origin | Latin | English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') |
| Pronunciation | /əˈlɪviə/ | /ˈruːbi/ |
| 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) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin, while Ruby is recorded with a English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') origin.
- Olivia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Ruby.
- Olivia's recorded meaning differs from Ruby'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 Ruby 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
Ruby
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #515 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls