Caleb vs Jordan
Caleb and Jordancompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #26 and Jordan #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #42 and Jordan #169 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Caleb was ranked #45 and Jordan #51 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #97 and Jordan #67 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #75 and Jordan #213 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #108 and Jordan #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Caleb and Jordan over time
Caleb and Jordan appear together in 5 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Caleb held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jordan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jordan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Caleb 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 2006, Caleb moved ahead of Jordan in England and Wales · Boys — #131 and #117 the year before became #125 and #135.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caleb and Jordan changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1982 and 2023, ending at #45 and #51.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Caleb and Jordan averaged 26.5 places apart, ending at #97 and #67.
- Longest-running competitions
Caleb and Jordan were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 42 years, from 1982 to 2023, ending at #45 and #51.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys42 shared years, 1982–2023
Caleb held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Jordan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #12 in 1999, Jordan #7 in 1994.
The order changed in 2019: Caleb moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #70 and #67; by 2019 that had become #43 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Caleb #45, Jordan #51.
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Jordan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #91 in 2024, Jordan #20 in 1999.
The order changed in 2023: Caleb moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #120 and #108; by 2023 that had become #142 and #143.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #108, Jordan #179.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Jordan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #72 in 2023, Jordan #10 in 1997.
The order changed in 2006: Caleb moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #131 and #117; by 2006 that had become #125 and #135.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #75, Jordan #213.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Jordan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #20 in 2023, Jordan #6 in 1997.
The order changed in 2006: Caleb moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #113 and #91; by 2006 that had become #78 and #131.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #26, Jordan #404.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1996–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Jordan in 24.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #51 in 2001, Jordan #14 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #97, Jordan #67.
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 | Caleb | Jordan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Jordan River, from Hebrew Yarden ('descend, flow down'). Crusaders brought water from the river to baptize children in Europe after John the Baptist baptized Jesus there. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew (place name origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈd͡ʒɔɹ.dən/ |
| 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 #108 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jordan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew (place name origin)); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
- Caleb and Jordan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jordan; Caleb 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
Caleb
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Jordan
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #283 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys