Dennis vs Jack
Dennis and Jackcompared 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 2024, Dennis was ranked #655 and Jack #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Dennis was ranked #392 and Jack #2 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dennis was ranked #453 and Jack #22 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Dennis was ranked #156 and Jack #432 among boys in Norway.
Dennis and Jack over time
Dennis and Jack appear together in 3 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Jack held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Dennis in 1.
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.
Jack reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Dennis 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 1985, Jack moved ahead of Dennis in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #187 and #224 the year before became #250 and #170.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dennis and Jack changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1970 and 2024, ending at #655 and #1.
- Longest-running competitions
Dennis and Jack were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 62 years, from 1952 to 2025, ending at #156 and #432.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1952–2025
Dennis held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Jack in 12.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #70 in 2002, Jack #165 in 1962.
The order changed in 1975: Dennis moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #455 and #409; by 1975 that had become #283 and #493.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dennis #156, Jack #432.
Republic of Ireland · Boys47 shared years, 1970–2024
Dennis held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Jack in 37.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #179 in 1982, Jack #1 in 2000.
The order changed in 1985: Jack moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #187 and #224; by 1985 that had become #250 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dennis #655, Jack #1.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dennis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jack in 29.
Highest recorded here: Dennis #316 in 2005, Jack #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dennis #453, Jack #22.
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 | Dennis | Jack |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | God is gracious (via John), though now used as an independent name. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | English, historically a diminutive of John |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒæk/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Jankin |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #156 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #2 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Jack has a recorded origin (English, historically a diminutive of John); Dennis does not have one recorded yet.
- Dennis has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Jack.
- A meaning is recorded for Jack; Dennis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Dennis a "medium" Data Confidence level and Jack a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Dennis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1970
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1970).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #156 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Jack
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #171 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys