Alexander vs Jonathon
Alexander 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1994, Alexander was ranked #16 and Jonathon #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2020, Alexander was ranked #26 and Jonathon #3848 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1989, Alexander was ranked #34 and Jonathon #97 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Alexander was ranked #36 and Jonathon #646 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2005, Alexander was ranked #60 and Jonathon #265 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Alexander and Jonathon over time
Alexander and Jonathon appear together in 4 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Alexander held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jonathon in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Jonathon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Alexander 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Jonathon fell — from #127 and #321 in 1974 to #36 and #646 in 2019.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexander and Jonathon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 30 years, from 1974 to 2019, ending at #36 and #646.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Alexander #14 in 1996, Jonathon #175 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1974–2019
Alexander held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jonathon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #36 in 2019, Jonathon #110 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Alexander #36, Jonathon #646.
England and Wales · Boys25 shared years, 1996–2020
Alexander held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Jonathon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1996, Jonathon #175 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Alexander #26, Jonathon #3848.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1981–1994
Alexander held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Jonathon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #14 in 1992, Jonathon #74 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Alexander #16, Jonathon #95.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2005
Alexander held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Jonathon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Alexander #52 in 1998, Jonathon #109 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Alexander #60, 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 | Alexander | Jonathon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'defender of men' or 'protector of the people'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˌælɪɡˈzændər/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 4 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Alex, Xander, Sasha, Alessandro | 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 | United Kingdom #11 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3848 (2020) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Alexander has a recorded origin (Greek); Jonathon does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexander has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathon.
- A meaning is recorded for Alexander; Jonathon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexander a "high" Data Confidence level and Jonathon a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Alexander
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #320 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2014 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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