Daniel vs Jonathan
Daniel 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #13 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Daniel was ranked #15 and Jonathan #88 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Daniel was ranked #29 and Jonathan #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #37 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #52 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #59 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #66 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
Daniel and Jonathan over time
Daniel and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 288 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Jonathan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Daniel reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Jonathan in 2. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Daniel and Jonathan changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1957 and 2013, ending at #15 and #88.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 54 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Daniel and Jonathan averaged 54.2 places apart, ending at #29 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Jonathan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 54 years, from 1963 to 2016, ending at #29 and #97.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Daniel #2 in 1996, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #12 and #21 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #37 and #305.
List by list
Norway · Boys64 shared years, 1949–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 64 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 1989, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #66, Jonathan #93.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 59 of those years, Jonathan in 3.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #13, Jonathan #223.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys54 shared years, 1963–2016
Daniel held the stronger position in 54 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1979, Jonathan #41 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Daniel #29, Jonathan #97.
New Zealand · Boys51 shared years, 1957–2013
Daniel held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Jonathan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #1 in 1980, Jonathan #15 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Daniel #15, Jonathan #88.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #59, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 2010, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #37, 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 | Daniel | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'God is my judge', referencing the biblical prophet Daniel. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdænjəl/ | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #13 (2025) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Daniel has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- A meaning is recorded for Daniel; 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
Daniel
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #280 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1954–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #64 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