Christopher vs Jonathan
Christopher 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Christopher was ranked #73 and Jonathan #91 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #311 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2014, Christopher was ranked #94 and Jonathan #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #121 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #127 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #204 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #239 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Christopher and Jonathan over time
Christopher and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 284 years of shared records. Christopher held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Jonathan 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.
Jonathan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Christopher in 1. 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 1996, Jonathan moved ahead of Christopher in Norway · Boys — #92 and #118 the year before became #106 and #100.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Christopher and Jonathan changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1963 and 2014, ending at #94 and #100.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Christopher and Jonathan averaged 40.4 places apart, ending at #204 and #302.
- Longest-running competitions
Christopher and Jonathan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 52 years, from 1963 to 2014, ending at #94 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Christopher #25 in 1996, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys63 shared years, 1949–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Jonathan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #54 in 1987, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order changed in 1996: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #92 and #118; by 1996 that had become #106 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #311, Jonathan #93.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Jonathan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #13 in 1990, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #121, Jonathan #223.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys52 shared years, 1963–2014
Christopher held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Jonathan in 3.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #2 in 1985, Jonathan #41 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Christopher #94, Jonathan #100.
New Zealand · Boys50 shared years, 1957–2007
Christopher held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Jonathan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #4 in 1984, Jonathan #15 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Christopher #73, Jonathan #91.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #25 in 1996, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #204, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #10 in 1998, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #239, Jonathan #305.
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 | Christopher | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Late Greek Christophoros, combining 'Christos' (Christ) with 'phero' ('to bear') — 'bearing Christ'. Associated with the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 58/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Christopher has a recorded origin (Greek); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Christopher and Jonathan both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Christopher; 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
Christopher
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2014
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1952–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #311 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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