Edward vs Jonathan
Edward 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #31 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Edward was ranked #56 and Jonathan #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Edward was ranked #69 and Jonathan #88 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #189 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #125 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #177 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #181 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
Edward and Jonathan over time
Edward and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 274 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Edward in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 4 of those lists, Edward 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 1997, Edward moved ahead of Jonathan in England and Wales · Boys — #45 and #39 the year before became #44 and #45.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Edward and Jonathan changed places 8 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1963 and 2016, ending at #56 and #97.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 50 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Edward and Jonathan averaged 23.3 places apart, ending at #56 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Edward and Jonathan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 50 years, from 1963 to 2016, ending at #56 and #97.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Edward #56 in 1984, Jonathan #15 in 1982.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #45 and #39 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #31 and #302.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1958–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Jonathan in 52.
Highest recorded here: Edward #168 in 2012, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order changed in 1979: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #512 and #524; by 1979 that had become #566 and #326.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #189, Jonathan #93.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Jonathan in 23.
Highest recorded here: Edward #17 in 1965, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #125, Jonathan #223.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys50 shared years, 1963–2016
Edward held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Jonathan in 34.
Highest recorded here: Edward #42 in 2015, Jonathan #41 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Edward #56, Jonathan #97.
New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 1957–2013
Edward held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Jonathan in 32.
Highest recorded here: Edward #56 in 1984, Jonathan #15 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Edward #69, Jonathan #88.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jonathan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Edward #23 in 2016, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Edward moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #45 and #39; by 1997 that had become #44 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #31, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Jonathan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Edward #104 in 1997, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order changed in 2012: Edward moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #135 and #101; by 2012 that had become #138 and #174.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #177, 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 | Edward | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Edward has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Edward
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #324 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 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