Craig vs Jason
Craig and Jasoncompared 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 1991, Craig was ranked #97 and Jason #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Craig was ranked #90 and Jason #35 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Craig was ranked #415 and Jason #142 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Jason #193 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Jason #197 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #478 and Jason #199 among boys in Scotland.
Craig and Jason over time
Craig and Jason appear together in 5 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Jason held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Craig 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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 1970, Jason moved ahead of Craig in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #8 and #12 the year before became #14 and #2.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Craig and Jason averaged 24.4 places apart, ending at #97 and #22.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Jason were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 58 years, from 1965 to 2023, ending at #516 and #193.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Craig #81 in 1996, Jason #69 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys58 shared years, 1965–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Jason in 56.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Jason #18 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Jason #193.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jason in 29.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Jason #69 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Jason #197.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1964–1991
Craig held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Jason in 22.
Highest recorded here: Craig #8 in 1969, Jason #1 in 1971.
The order changed in 1970: Jason moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #8 and #12; by 1970 that had become #14 and #2.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Craig #97, Jason #22.
New Zealand · Boys27 shared years, 1966–1992
Craig held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Jason in 24.
Highest recorded here: Craig #6 in 1971, Jason #1 in 1970.
The order changed in 1969: Jason moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #13 and #19; by 1969 that had become #10 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Craig #90, Jason #35.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2015
Craig held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jason in 17.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Jason #36 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Craig #415, Jason #142.
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 | Craig | Jason |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Scottish surname derived from Gaelic 'creag', meaning 'crag, rocks, outcrop' — originally denoting someone who lived near a crag. | From Ancient Greek Iason, meaning 'healer'. In Greek mythology, Jason led the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece; the name also appears in the New Testament as a Hellenized form possibly of a Hebrew name. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹeɪɡ/ | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Craig is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) origin, while Jason is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Craig has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Jason.
- Craig's recorded meaning differs from Jason's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Craig
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Jason
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2005
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2005).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys