Alex vs Jonathon
Alex and Jonathoncompared 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 2019, Alex was ranked #14 and Jonathon #646 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1994, Alex was ranked #58 and Jonathon #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2005, Alex was ranked #75 and Jonathon #265 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1989, Alex was ranked #82 and Jonathon #97 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2020, Alex was ranked #108 and Jonathon #3848 among boys in England and Wales.
Alex and Jonathon over time
Alex and Jonathon appear together in 3 published lists, across 63 years of shared records. Alex held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jonathon in 0.
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.
Jonathon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Alex in none. 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 1987, Alex moved ahead of Jonathon in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #256 and #256 the year before became #190 and #203.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alex rose about as far as Jonathon fell — from #321 and #321 in 1974 to #14 and #646 in 2019.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1974–2019
Alex held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Jonathon in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #10 in 2008, Jonathon #110 in 1999.
The order changed in 1987: Alex moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #256 and #256; by 1987 that had become #190 and #203.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Alex #14, Jonathon #646.
England and Wales · Boys25 shared years, 1996–2020
Alex held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Jonathon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alex #42 in 2002, Jonathon #175 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alex #108, Jonathon #3848.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2005
Alex held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Jonathon in 2.
Highest recorded here: Alex #68 in 2003, Jonathon #109 in 1997.
The order changed in 1999: Alex moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #163 and #144; by 1999 that had become #107 and #168.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Alex #75, Jonathon #265.
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 | Jonathon |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #37 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3848 (2020) |
| 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); Jonathon does not have one recorded yet.
- Alex has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathon.
- A meaning is recorded for Alex; Jonathon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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
Jonathon
Popularity journey
First recorded1974
First recorded at #321 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1974 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–1994
Highest recorded position: #74 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1983 (recorded 1981–1994).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2020
Most recently recorded at #3848 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020.
England and Wales · Boys