Geoffrey vs John
Geoffrey 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 1997, Geoffrey was ranked #271 and John #17 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Geoffrey was ranked #98 and John #18 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1987, Geoffrey was ranked #97 and John #25 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Geoffrey was ranked #779 and John #36 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Geoffrey was ranked #2443 and John #164 among boys in England and Wales.
Geoffrey and John over time
Geoffrey and John appear together in 4 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. John held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Geoffrey in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
John reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Geoffrey 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Geoffrey and John averaged 34.9 places apart, ending at #97 and #25.
- Longest-running competitions
Geoffrey and John were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 33 years, from 1952 to 1987, ending at #97 and #25.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Geoffrey #571 in 1998, John #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys46 shared years, 1964–2022
Geoffrey held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 46.
Highest recorded here: Geoffrey #109 in 1969, John #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Geoffrey #779, John #36.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys33 shared years, 1952–1987
Geoffrey held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 33.
Highest recorded here: Geoffrey #15 in 1952, John #1 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Geoffrey #97, John #25.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Geoffrey held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 29.
Highest recorded here: Geoffrey #571 in 1998, John #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Geoffrey #2443, John #164.
New Zealand · Boys29 shared years, 1954–1985
Geoffrey held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 29.
Highest recorded here: Geoffrey #27 in 1955, John #1 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Geoffrey #98, John #18.
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 | Geoffrey | John |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From 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. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjɔn/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2443 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #29 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- John has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Geoffrey does not have one recorded yet.
- Geoffrey has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for John.
- A meaning is recorded for John; Geoffrey doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Geoffrey
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #15 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
Highest recorded1952–1987
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1987).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2443 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
John
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1952–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #161 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys