Dylan vs Jesse
Dylan and Jessecompared 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 2014, Dylan was ranked #53 and Jesse #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Jesse #54 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2017, Dylan was ranked #69 and Jesse #99 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Jesse #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #154 and Jesse #102 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Jesse #290 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Dylan was ranked #655 and Jesse #559 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #1743 and Jesse #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Dylan and Jesse over time
Dylan and Jesse appear together in 6 published lists, across 178 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jesse in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Dylan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Jesse 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2023, Jesse moved ahead of Dylan in England and Wales · Boys — #64 and #66 the year before became #67 and #59.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dylan and Jesse changed places 13 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1743 and #4843.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Dylan and Jesse averaged 29.6 places apart, ending at #53 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Dylan and Jesse were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1985 to 2014, ending at #53 and #93.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Dylan #12 in 1995, Jesse #30 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1978–2025
Dylan held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Jesse in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Jesse #133 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Jesse #141.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1981–2017
Dylan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jesse in 5.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1992, Jesse #18 in 1990.
The order changed in 1992: Dylan moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #30 and #21; by 1992 that had become #7 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Dylan #69, Jesse #99.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1985–2014
Dylan held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Jesse in 5.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #12 in 1995, Jesse #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Dylan #53, Jesse #93.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jesse in 2.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Jesse #54 in 2024.
The order changed in 2023: Jesse moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #64 and #66; by 2023 that had become #67 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Jesse #54.
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Jesse in 13.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #1454 in 2021, Jesse #965 in 2003.
The order changed in 2023: Dylan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #3148 and #3148; by 2023 that had become #1959 and #3598.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #1743, Jesse #4843.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Jesse in 1.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #8 in 2008, Jesse #102 in 2024.
The order changed in 2024: Jesse moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #98 and #121; by 2024 that had become #154 and #102.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #154, Jesse #102.
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 | Dylan | Jesse |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with the sea/tide — popularly glossed as 'great tide' or 'born from the sea', reflecting the mythological figure's role. Some scholars theorise the figure may reflect an earlier, otherwise unattested Celtic sea god — treat as a proposed origin, not settled fact. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Welsh | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɪlən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan and Jesse both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Jesse doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Dylan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #246 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1980–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Jesse
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2017
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–2017).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys