Charlie vs Jonathan
Charlie 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Charlie was ranked #8 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Charlie was ranked #13 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Charlie was ranked #17 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Charlie was ranked #19 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Charlie was ranked #22 and Jonathan #88 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Charlie was ranked #25 and Jonathan #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Charlie was ranked #211 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
Charlie and Jonathan over time
Charlie and Jonathan appear together in 5 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Charlie held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jonathan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 5 of those lists, and Charlie 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #28 in 2005 as Jonathan fell out of it to #56, having been #42 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2003, Charlie moved ahead of Jonathan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #85 and #68 the year before became #63 and #72.
- Longest-running competitions
Charlie and Jonathan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 33 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #13 and #223.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #38 and #39 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #17 and #302.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1983–2025
Charlie held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Jonathan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Charlie #5 in 2022, Jonathan #25 in 1983.
The order changed in 2003: Charlie moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #93 and #82; by 2003 that had become #79 and #90.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlie #13, Jonathan #223.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Charlie held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Charlie #4 in 2012, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Charlie #17, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Charlie held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Jonathan in 8.
Highest recorded here: Charlie #3 in 2013, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order changed in 2005: Charlie moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #54 and #42; by 2005 that had become #28 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Charlie #8, Jonathan #305.
Norway · Boys26 shared years, 1990–2025
Charlie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jonathan in 26.
Highest recorded here: Charlie #189 in 2017, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlie #211, Jonathan #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 2000–2016
Charlie held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jonathan in 3.
Highest recorded here: Charlie #18 in 2011, Jonathan #63 in 2001.
The order changed in 2003: Charlie moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #85 and #68; by 2003 that had become #63 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Charlie #25, Jonathan #97.
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 | Charlie | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Charles, ultimately interpreted as 'man' or, by an alternative theory, 'army'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English, via Germanic Karl | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈtʃɑːli/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #12 (2025) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Charlie has a recorded origin (English, via Germanic Karl); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Charlie has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- A meaning is recorded for Charlie; Jonathan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Charlie
Popularity journey
First recorded1983
First recorded at #282 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 recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2013 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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