Dylan vs Jonathan
Dylan 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Dylan was ranked #50 and Jonathan #88 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dylan was ranked #69 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Dylan was ranked #70 and Jonathan #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #154 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Dylan and Jonathan over time
Dylan and Jonathan appear together in 5 published lists, across 175 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jonathan in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jonathan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Dylan 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 1998, Dylan moved ahead of Jonathan in England and Wales · Boys — #52 and #45 the year before became #45 and #48.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Dylan and Jonathan averaged 39.4 places apart, ending at #70 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Dylan and Jonathan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 34 years, from 1983 to 2016, ending at #70 and #97.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1969–2025
Dylan held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Jonathan in 22.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order changed in 1993: Dylan moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #70 and #38; by 1993 that had become #33 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Jonathan #223.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2016
Dylan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jonathan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #12 in 1995, Jonathan #41 in 1983.
The order changed in 1990: Dylan moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #59 and #53; by 1990 that had become #49 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Dylan #70, Jonathan #97.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jonathan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Dylan moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #52 and #45; by 1998 that had become #45 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Jonathan #302.
New Zealand · Boys29 shared years, 1980–2013
Dylan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Jonathan in 12.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1992, Jonathan #15 in 1982.
The order changed in 1992: Dylan moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #30 and #28; by 1992 that had become #7 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Dylan #50, Jonathan #88.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jonathan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 2001, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order changed in 1998: Dylan moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #23 and #21; by 1998 that had become #19 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #154, 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 | Dylan | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Jonathan 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
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