Alphonsus vs Jan
Alphonsus and Jancompared 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 2012, Alphonsus was ranked #718 and Jan #114 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2013, Alphonsus was ranked #3822 and Jan #252 among boys in England and Wales.
Alphonsus and Jan over time
Alphonsus and Jan appear together in 1 published list, across 8 years of shared records. Alphonsus held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Jan 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.
Alphonsus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Jan 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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1967–2012
Alphonsus held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jan in 3.
Highest recorded here: Alphonsus #164 in 1967, Jan #114 in 2012.
The order changed in 2012: Jan moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #254 and #319; by 2012 that had become #718 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Alphonsus #718, Jan #114.
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 | Alphonsus | Jan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A form of Johannes used across many European languages, from Hebrew Yochanan via Greek Ioannes — 'Yahweh is gracious'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈjɑːn/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3822 (2013) | Norway · Boys #149 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jan has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission); Alphonsus does not have one recorded yet.
- Alphonsus has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Jan.
- A meaning is recorded for Jan; Alphonsus doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Alphonsus
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #155 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2012
Highest recorded position: #155 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2012).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2012
Most recently recorded at #718 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2012.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Jan
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #2 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: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1946 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #149 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys