Derek vs Jason
Derek 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1970, Derek was ranked #95 and Jason #1 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1998, Derek was ranked #272 and Jason #36 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Derek was ranked #432 and Jason #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #1108 and Jason #197 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #727 and Jason #199 among boys in Scotland.
Derek and Jason over time
Derek and Jason appear together in 2 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Jason held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Derek 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.
Derek reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Jason 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1984, Jason moved ahead of Derek in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #36 and #43 the year before became #40 and #37.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Derek and Jason changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1965 and 2025, ending at #432 and #135.
- Longest-running competitions
Derek and Jason were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 59 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #432 and #135.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Derek #464 in 1996, Jason #69 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1965–2025
Derek held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Jason in 44.
Highest recorded here: Derek #22 in 1972, Jason #18 in 1974.
The order changed in 1984: Jason moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #36 and #43; by 1984 that had become #40 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Derek #432, Jason #135.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Derek held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jason in 29.
Highest recorded here: Derek #464 in 1996, Jason #69 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Derek #1108, Jason #197.
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 | Derek | Jason |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | 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 | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Jason has a recorded origin (Greek); Derek does not have one recorded yet.
- Derek and Jason both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jason; Derek doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Derek
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #89 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1972 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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