Carter vs Jordan
Carter 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Carter was ranked #30 and Jordan #51 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Carter was ranked #70 and Jordan #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Carter was ranked #72 and Jordan #169 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Carter was ranked #103 and Jordan #213 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Carter was ranked #114 and Jordan #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Carter was ranked #317 and Jordan #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Carter was ranked #4843 and Jordan #2574 among girls in England and Wales.
Carter and Jordan over time
Carter and Jordan appear together in 6 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Jordan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Carter in 2.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.
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 2011, Carter moved ahead of Jordan in England and Wales · Boys — #251 and #197 the year before became #194 and #217.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Carter and Jordan changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 2009 and 2025, ending at #317 and #179.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Carter held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jordan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Carter #60 in 2018, Jordan #10 in 1997.
The order changed in 2011: Carter moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #251 and #197; by 2011 that had become #194 and #217.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carter #103, Jordan #213.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Carter held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Jordan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Carter #53 in 2013, Jordan #6 in 1997.
The order changed in 2006: Carter moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #119 and #91; by 2006 that had become #56 and #131.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carter #114, Jordan #404.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 2006–2023
Carter held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jordan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Carter #21 in 2015, Jordan #35 in 2006.
The order changed in 2010: Carter moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #68 and #51; by 2010 that had become #57 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Carter #30, Jordan #51.
Republic of Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2009–2025
Carter held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Jordan in 12.
Highest recorded here: Carter #113 in 2019, Jordan #108 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Carter #317, Jordan #179.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys11 shared years, 2015–2025
Carter held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Jordan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Carter #60 in 2018, Jordan #45 in 2022.
The order changed in 2025: Carter moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #76 and #67; by 2025 that had become #70 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Carter #70, Jordan #90.
England and Wales · Girls8 shared years, 2014–2024
Carter held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Jordan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Carter #2674 in 2018, Jordan #2574 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carter #4843, Jordan #2574.
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 | Carter | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #70 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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)); Carter does not have one recorded yet.
- Carter and Jordan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jordan; Carter 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
Carter
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #755 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2006–2023
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in New Zealand, in 2015 (recorded 2006–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #70 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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