Olivia vs Selam
Olivia and Selamcompared 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 2011, Olivia was ranked #2 and Selam #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2002, Olivia was ranked #167 and Selam #526 among girls in Norway.
Olivia and Selam over time
Olivia and Selam appear together in 1 published list, across 13 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Selam in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Selam reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.
List by list
Norway · Girls13 shared years, 1975–2002
Olivia held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Selam in 6.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #167 in 2002, Selam #254 in 1991.
The order changed in 1993: Olivia moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #393 and #336; by 1993 that had become #281 and #469.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Olivia #167, Selam #526.
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 | Selam |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5785 (2011) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Olivia has a recorded origin (Latin); Selam does not have one recorded yet.
- Olivia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Selam.
- A meaning is recorded for Olivia; Selam doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
- The available evidence gives Olivia a "high" Data Confidence level and Selam 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
Selam
Popularity journey
First recorded1975
First recorded at #566 among girls in Norway in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1975–2002
Highest recorded position: #254 among girls in Norway, in 1991 (recorded 1975–2002).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2011
Most recently recorded at #5785 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011.
England and Wales · Girls