Olivia vs Thea
Olivia and Thea compared 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 2025, Olivia was ranked #1 and Thea #66 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #1 and Thea #65 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #2 and Thea #75 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #2 and Thea #50 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2023, Olivia was ranked #3 and Thea #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Olivia was ranked #4 and Thea #70 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #8 and Thea #207 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Olivia and Thea over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Olivia and Thea over time
Olivia and Thea appear together in 5 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Thea in 1.
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.
Thea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Olivia in 2. 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 2015, Olivia moved ahead of Thea in Norway · Girls — #11 and #8 the year before became #3 and #10.
- Longest-running competitions
Olivia and Thea were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1 and #66.
List by list
Norway · Girls42 shared years, 1975–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Thea in 31.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2023, Thea #1 in 2006.
The order changed in 2015: Olivia moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #11 and #8; by 2015 that had become #3 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #2, Thea #50.
Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 1993–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Thea in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #7 in 2024, Thea #136 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #8, Thea #207.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Thea in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2008, Thea #46 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #1, Thea #66.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2004–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Thea in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2024, Thea #40 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #2, Thea #75.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 2014–2023
Olivia held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Thea in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2015, Thea #31 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Olivia #4, Thea #70.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Olivia
Pairs where Olivia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Olivia vs Danielle
In 1996 they stood at #24 and #20 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #1 and #1454.
Olivia · Danielle · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Olivia vs Chelsea
In 1996 they stood at #24 and #34 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #1 and #983.
Olivia · Chelsea · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Olivia vs Jade
In 1996 they stood at #24 and #19 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #1 and #747.
Olivia · Jade · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Olivia vs Paige
In 1996 they stood at #24 and #28 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #1 and #580.
Olivia · Paige · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Thea
Pairs where Thea shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Thea vs Eva
Over 63 shared years in Norway · Girls, Thea rose about as far as Eva fell — from #380 and #9 in 1950 to #50 and #22 in 2025.
Thea · Eva · 63 shared years, 1950–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thea vs Heidi
Over 63 shared years in Norway · Girls, Thea rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #380 and #232 in 1950 to #50 and #437 in 2025.
Thea · Heidi · 63 shared years, 1950–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thea vs Kristine
Over 63 shared years in Norway · Girls, Thea rose about as far as Kristine fell — from #380 and #159 in 1950 to #50 and #244 in 2025.
Thea · Kristine · 63 shared years, 1950–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thea vs Nina
Over 63 shared years in Norway · Girls, Thea rose about as far as Nina fell — from #380 and #103 in 1950 to #50 and #195 in 2025.
Thea · Nina · 63 shared years, 1950–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Norway lists
Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Olivia | Thea |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. | A short form of Dorothea, Theodora, Theresa and other similar-sounding Greek-rooted names. |
| Origin | Latin | Greek (via Germanic/Scandinavian transmission) |
| Pronunciation | /əˈlɪviə/ | /ˈteː.a/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Olivea, Liv, Livvy, Oliwia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #50 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin, while Thea is recorded with a Greek (via Germanic/Scandinavian transmission) origin.
- Olivia has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Thea.
- Olivia's recorded meaning differs from Thea'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 Thea 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Thea
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #380 among girls in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1950–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1950–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #66 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls