Alfred vs Jonathan
Alfred 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #26 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #81 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Alfred was ranked #272 and Jonathan #200 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alfred was ranked #286 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alfred was ranked #278 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
Alfred and Jonathan over time
Alfred and Jonathan appear together in 4 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Alfred in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 3 of those lists, Alfred 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 2012, Alfred moved ahead of Jonathan in England and Wales · Boys — #158 and #147 the year before became #158 and #170.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alfred and Jonathan changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1949 and 2025, ending at #26 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Alfred and Jonathan were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 58 years, from 1949 to 2025, ending at #26 and #93.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Alfred #262 in 2009, Jonathan #93 in 2008.
List by list
Norway · Boys58 shared years, 1949–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Jonathan in 35.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #18 in 2023, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #26, Jonathan #93.
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1964–2025
Alfred held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jonathan in 45.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #134 in 1964, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alfred #286, Jonathan #223.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alfred held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Jonathan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #76 in 2023, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Alfred moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #158 and #147; by 2012 that had become #158 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alfred #81, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 2008–2023
Alfred held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jonathan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alfred #262 in 2009, Jonathan #93 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alfred #272, Jonathan #200.
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 | Alfred | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #26 (2025) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alfred has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Alfred
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #127 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #26 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