Alex vs Jonathan
Alex 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, Alex was ranked #37 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Alex was ranked #55 and Jonathan #88 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2013, Alex was ranked #90 and Jonathan #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alex was ranked #259 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #108 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #135 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alex was ranked #171 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Jonathan over time
Alex and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 220 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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, Alex 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 1997, Alex moved ahead of Jonathan in England and Wales · Boys — #43 and #39 the year before became #43 and #45.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alex and Jonathan changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1987 and 2013, ending at #90 and #84.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alex and Jonathan averaged 12.1 places apart, ending at #90 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Alex and Jonathan were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 61 years, from 1960 to 2025, ending at #259 and #93.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Alex #154 in 2009, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
List by list
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1960–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Jonathan in 51.
Highest recorded here: Alex #154 in 2009, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order changed in 1979: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #353 and #524; by 1979 that had become #374 and #326.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #259, Jonathan #93.
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1972–2025
Alex held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jonathan in 25.
Highest recorded here: Alex #8 in 2009, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order changed in 1998: Alex moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #84 and #63; by 1998 that had become #59 and #86.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alex #37, Jonathan #223.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jonathan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Alex moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #43 and #39; by 1997 that had become #43 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #171, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alex held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Jonathan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alex #31 in 2009, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order changed in 2007: Alex moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #66 and #63; by 2007 that had become #47 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alex #108, Jonathan #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys27 shared years, 1987–2013
Alex held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Jonathan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alex #53 in 2005, Jonathan #44 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alex #90, Jonathan #84.
New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 1987–2013
Alex held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Jonathan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alex #27 in 2004, Jonathan #25 in 1988.
The order changed in 2001: Alex moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #72 and #62; by 2001 that had become #66 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alex #55, Jonathan #88.
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 | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alex has a recorded origin (Greek, short form); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; 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
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
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