Alex vs Jonatan
Alex and Jonatancompared 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 2012, Alex was ranked #18 and Jonatan #718 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Jonatan #5119 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #259 and Jonatan #404 among boys in Norway.
Alex and Jonatan over time
Alex and Jonatan appear together in 2 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Jonatan changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1982 and 2025, ending at #259 and #404.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Jonatan were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 44 years, from 1982 to 2025, ending at #259 and #404.
List by list
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1982–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Jonatan in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, Jonatan #119 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #259, Jonatan #404.
England and Wales · Boys14 shared years, 2007–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jonatan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #47 in 2008, Jonatan #2613 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Jonatan #5119.
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 | Alex | Jonatan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with 'Alex' — from Greek elements meaning 'defender' and 'man/people'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, short form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæl.ɪks/ | 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 | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Norway · Boys #404 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Jonatan does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonatan.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Jonatan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Alex
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #346 among boys in Norway in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1972–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1972–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #259 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Jonatan
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #624 among boys in Norway in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2025
Highest recorded position: #119 among boys in Norway, in 2003 (recorded 1982–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #404 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys