Namewise

Francis vs John

Francis and Johncompared 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 1964, Francis was ranked #93 and John #3 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1961, Francis was ranked #93 and John #5 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Francis was ranked #309 and John #29 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Francis was ranked #278 and John #67 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Francis was ranked #352 and John #78 among boys in Scotland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Francis was ranked #316 and John #161 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Francis was ranked #193 and John #174 among boys in England and Wales.

Francis and John over time

Francis and John appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. John held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Francis in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

John reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Francis 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.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Francis and John were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #193 and #174.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Francis #188 in 1996, John #46 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 62.

    Highest recorded here: Francis #16 in 1964, John #1 in 1964.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Francis #309, John #29.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Francis #188 in 1996, John #46 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Francis #193, John #174.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Francis #100 in 1997, John #17 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Francis #278, John #67.

  • Norway · Boys26 shared years, 1960–2025

    Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Francis #316 in 2025, John #15 in 1964.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Francis #316, John #161.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 1952–1961

    Francis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Francis #71 in 1954, John #1 in 1952.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1961: Francis #93, John #5.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Francis

Pairs where Francis shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving John

Pairs where John shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.

All peaked in the same years→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1960s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1960 and 1969.

The 1960s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Francis, John
FieldFrancisJohn
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom Hebrew Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious', via Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes. One of the most widespread names in Christian Europe, associated with both John the Baptist and the apostle John.
OriginNot yet recordedBiblical Hebrew
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈjɔn/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #193 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #29 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • John has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Francis does not have one recorded yet.
  • Francis has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for John.
  • A meaning is recorded for John; Francis doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Francis

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #74 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

John

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #20 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–2019

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2019).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #174 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys