Namewise

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 2025, Alex was ranked #207 and Jonathan #296 among boys in England and Wales.

Alex and Jonathan over time

Alex and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 221 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 England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #207 and #296.

  • 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 · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Alex held the stronger position in 29 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, 2025: Alex #207, Jonathan #296.

  • 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.

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 Alex

Pairs where Alex shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Jonathan

Pairs where Jonathan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alex, Jonathan
FieldAlexJonathan
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningA short form of Alexander, Alexandra and other names beginning with 'Alex' — from Greek elements meaning 'defender' and 'man/people'.Not yet recorded
OriginGreek, short formNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈæl.ɪks/Not yet recorded
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025)Norway · Boys #93 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1972–2025

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1972–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2605 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Jonathan

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1957–2013

    Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #296 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys