George vs John
George and John compared 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 2021, George was ranked #5 and John #86 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, George was ranked #7 and John #174 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, George was ranked #112 and John #29 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2019, George was ranked #31 and John #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, George was ranked #40 and John #67 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, George was ranked #48 and John #78 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, George was ranked #364 and John #144 among boys in Norway.
George and John over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
George and John over time
George and John appear together in 6 published lists, across 313 years of shared records. John held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, George in 1.
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.
John reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and George 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, George moved into the top 50 at #49 in 2018 as John fell out of it to #60, having been #32 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2008, George moved ahead of John in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #73 and #65 the year before became #64 and #83.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 66 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, George and John averaged 35.9 places apart, ending at #31 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
George and John were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #7 and #174.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — George #52 in 1964, John #1 in 1964.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys68 shared years, 1954–2021
George held the stronger position in 23 of those years, John in 45.
Highest recorded here: George #5 in 2021, John #1 in 1954.
The order changed in 2000: George moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #41 and #40; by 2000 that had become #30 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2021: George #5, John #86.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys66 shared years, 1952–2019
George held the stronger position in 13 of those years, John in 53.
Highest recorded here: George #29 in 2017, John #1 in 1952.
The order changed in 2008: George moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #73 and #65; by 2008 that had become #64 and #83.
Most recent shared year, 2019: George #31, John #97.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
George held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 62.
Highest recorded here: George #52 in 1964, John #1 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: George #112, John #29.
Norway · Boys59 shared years, 1946–2023
George held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 59.
Highest recorded here: George #253 in 1968, John #15 in 1951.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: George #364, John #144.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
George held the stronger position in 30 of those years, John in 0.
Highest recorded here: George #2 in 2018, John #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: George #7, John #174.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
George held the stronger position in 7 of those years, John in 21.
Highest recorded here: George #25 in 2023, John #17 in 1997.
The order changed in 2018: George moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #58 and #32; by 2018 that had become #49 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2024: George #40, John #67.
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 George
Pairs where George shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- George vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #19 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #334.
George · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Conor vs George
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Conor rose about as far as George fell — from #56 and #52 in 1964 to #16 and #112 in 2025.
Conor · George · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- George vs Luke
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Luke rose about as far as George fell — from #52 and #105 in 1964 to #112 and #23 in 2025.
George · Luke · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving John
Pairs where John shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- John vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #845.
John · Scott · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #716.
John · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #615.
John · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Aksel
John and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #161 and #25.
John · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | George | John |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Farmer, earth-worker. | 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 | Greek | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒɔːdʒ/ | /ˈjɔn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #7 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #29 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- George is recorded with a Greek origin, while John is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- George has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for John.
- George's recorded meaning differs from John's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
George
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #345 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #7 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #174 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys