Namewise

Graham vs John

Graham 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 1972, Graham was ranked #74 and John #13 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1979, Graham was ranked #100 and John #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2023, Graham was ranked #770 and John #31 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2010, Graham was ranked #387 and John #40 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Graham was ranked #727 and John #78 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Graham was ranked #2952 and John #174 among boys in England and Wales.

Graham and John over time

Graham and John appear together in 5 published lists, across 140 years of shared records. John held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Graham 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 Graham 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 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graham and John averaged 43.0 places apart, ending at #100 and #19.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Graham and John were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2952 and #174.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Graham #341 in 1996, John #46 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1964–2023

    Graham held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 54.

    Highest recorded here: Graham #52 in 1984, John #1 in 1964.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Graham #770, John #31.

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

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

    Highest recorded here: Graham #341 in 1996, John #46 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Graham #2952, John #174.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1979

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

    Highest recorded here: Graham #20 in 1952, John #1 in 1952.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1979: Graham #100, John #19.

  • New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972

    Graham held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Graham #23 in 1954, John #1 in 1954.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1972: Graham #74, John #13.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1997–2010

    Graham held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Graham #137 in 1998, John #17 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2010: Graham #387, John #40.

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 Graham

Pairs where Graham 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 1970s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.

The 1970s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Graham, John
FieldGrahamJohn
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
Pronunciation/ˈjɔn/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #2952 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #29 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • John has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Graham does not have one recorded yet.
  • Graham has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for John.
  • A meaning is recorded for John; Graham 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

Graham

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #20 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 recorded1952–1979

    Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1979).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2952 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

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