Aaron vs Jonathan
Aaron and Jonathancompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Aaron was ranked #71 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Aaron was ranked #81 and Jonathan #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Aaron was ranked #89 and Jonathan #88 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Aaron was ranked #334 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Aaron was ranked #114 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Aaron was ranked #154 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Aaron was ranked #187 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Aaron and Jonathan over time
Aaron and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 249 years of shared records. Aaron held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jonathan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jonathan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Aaron 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 2014, Aaron moved ahead of Jonathan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #92 and #84 the year before became #91 and #100.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aaron and Jonathan changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1969 and 2016, ending at #81 and #97.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Aaron and Jonathan averaged 23.6 places apart, ending at #81 and #97.
- Mirrored each other
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Aaron rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #222 and #137 in 1965 to #71 and #223 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Aaron and Jonathan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 46 years, from 1969 to 2016, ending at #81 and #97.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Aaron #31 in 1998, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1965–2025
Aaron held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Jonathan in 25.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #6 in 1998, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order changed in 1991: Aaron moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #36 and #33; by 1991 that had become #28 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aaron #71, Jonathan #223.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1969–2016
Aaron held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Jonathan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #18 in 1986, Jonathan #41 in 1980.
The order changed in 2014: Aaron moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #92 and #84; by 2014 that had become #91 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Aaron #81, Jonathan #97.
New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 1966–2013
Aaron held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Jonathan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #8 in 1972, Jonathan #15 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Aaron #89, Jonathan #88.
Norway · Boys43 shared years, 1972–2025
Aaron held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jonathan in 43.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #162 in 2015, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aaron #334, Jonathan #93.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aaron held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #31 in 1998, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aaron #154, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Aaron held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #8 in 2000, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aaron #187, Jonathan #305.
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 | Aaron | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Best known as the name of Moses's elder brother and the first high priest of Israel in the Old Testament; the literal meaning of the name itself is not reliably established. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew (likely of Egyptian origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛrən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Aaron has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew (likely of Egyptian origin)); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Aaron has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- A meaning is recorded for Aaron; Jonathan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Aaron
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #222 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1965–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1965–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #334 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Jonathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #371 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2013
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys