Olivia vs Sarah
Olivia and Sarahcompared 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 Sarah #130 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Olivia was ranked #1 and Sarah #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #1 and Sarah #148 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #2 and Sarah #75 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #2 and Sarah #115 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2019, Olivia was ranked #4 and Sarah #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #8 and Sarah #66 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Olivia and Sarah over time
Olivia and Sarah appear together in 7 published lists, across 299 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Sarah in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Sarah 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 Sarah in England and Wales · Girls — #24 and #18 the year before became #19 and #22.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Olivia and Sarah averaged 36.3 places apart, ending at #1 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Olivia and Sarah were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 63 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #1 and #130.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Scotland · Girls within 2 years — Olivia #1 in 2024, Sarah #148 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls63 shared years, 1996–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Sarah in 1.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2008, Sarah #18 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Olivia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #24 and #18; by 1997 that had become #19 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Sarah #130.
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sarah in 50.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #4 in 1975, Sarah #1 in 1983.
The order changed in 2016: Olivia moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #14 and #14; by 2016 that had become #13 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #8, Sarah #66.
New Zealand · Girls43 shared years, 1977–2019
Olivia held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Sarah in 21.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2012, Sarah #1 in 1977.
The order changed in 1998: Olivia moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #8 and #4; by 1998 that had become #3 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Olivia #4, Sarah #100.
Norway · Girls43 shared years, 1964–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sarah in 26.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2023, Sarah #35 in 2007.
The order changed in 2009: Olivia moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #61 and #46; by 2009 that had become #44 and #47.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #2, Sarah #115.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls38 shared years, 1978–2021
Olivia held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Sarah in 19.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2014, Sarah #2 in 1981.
The order changed in 2003: Olivia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #6 and #5; by 2003 that had become #4 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Olivia #1, Sarah #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Sarah in 13.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2024, Sarah #5 in 2002.
The order changed in 2010: Olivia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #17 and #15; by 2010 that had become #5 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #2, Sarah #75.
Scotland · Girls22 shared years, 2024–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Sarah in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2024, Sarah #148 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Sarah #148.
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 | Sarah |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. | From Hebrew, meaning 'lady, princess, noblewoman'. In the Old Testament, Sarah's name was changed from Sarai by God, alongside Abraham's own name change (Genesis 17:15); she is regarded as matriarch of the Jewish people. |
| Origin | Latin | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /əˈlɪviə/ | /ˈsɛɹ.ə/ |
| 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 #66 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin, while Sarah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Olivia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sarah.
- Olivia's recorded meaning differs from Sarah'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 Sarah 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
Sarah
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #86 among girls in New Zealand in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1958–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1974 (recorded 1958–2019).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #115 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls