Brendan vs Jake
Brendan and Jakecompared 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 2004, Brendan was ranked #92 and Jake #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #404 and Jake #84 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Brendan was ranked #94 and Jake #98 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Jake #95 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #619 and Jake #165 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #1613 and Jake #235 among boys in England and Wales.
Brendan and Jake over time
Brendan and Jake appear together in 4 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Jake held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Brendan 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.
Brendan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Jake 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 1990, Jake moved ahead of Brendan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #34 and #40 the year before became #41 and #38.
- Longest-running competitions
Brendan and Jake were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1613 and #235.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #73 and #64 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #84.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1983–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Jake in 29.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #33 in 1983, Jake #25 in 2015.
The order changed in 1997: Jake moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #60 and #67; by 1997 that had become #73 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Jake #95.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jake in 30.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Jake #15 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #1613, Jake #235.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jake in 28.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Jake #10 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #404, Jake #84.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1986–2004
Brendan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jake in 15.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #28 in 1986, Jake #7 in 1994.
The order changed in 1990: Jake moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #34 and #40; by 1990 that had become #41 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Brendan #92, Jake #20.
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 | Brendan | Jake |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A medieval variant of Jack, also sometimes used as a short form of Jacob. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English, medieval variant |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈd͡ʒeɪk/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #95 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jake has a recorded origin (English, medieval variant); Brendan does not have one recorded yet.
- Brendan and Jake both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jake; Brendan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Brendan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #17 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1613 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Jake
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #330 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1983 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1986–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1994 (recorded 1986–2020).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #235 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys