Mary vs Olivia

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Mary

Girl #132 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"sea of bitterness"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Irish Christian Hebrew

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#132
Total SSA Count
2,196
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Molly, Polly, May

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Mary →

Olivia

Girl #1 Most Popular 4 Syllables

Meaning

"olive tree"

Origin: Latin

Cultural Roots

English Italian American

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1
Total SSA Count
14,718
Syllables
4
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Liv, Livvy, Oli

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Olivia →

Popularity Comparison

Mary Rank #132
Olivia Rank #1

Olivia is more popular, ranked #1 vs #132 for Mary.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Mary ___

  • Mary Grace
  • Mary Elizabeth
  • Mary Jane
  • Mary Ann
  • Mary Rose
  • Mary Claire

Olivia ___

  • Olivia Rose
  • Olivia Grace
  • Olivia Jane
  • Olivia Mae
  • Olivia Claire
  • Olivia Jade

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose Mary

Anne Elizabeth John James Margaret

If you choose Olivia

Liam Noah Charlotte Emma Sophia

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mary or Olivia more popular?

Olivia is more popular, ranked #1 compared to Mary at #132 in the United States.

What do Mary and Olivia mean?

Mary means "sea of bitterness" (Hebrew origin). Olivia means "olive tree" (Latin origin).

Are Mary and Olivia boy or girl names?

Mary is primarily a girl name. Olivia is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons

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← Full profile: Mary ← Full profile: Olivia Browse all baby names