Harry vs Jonathan
Harry 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #13 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #20 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Harry was ranked #25 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Harry was ranked #27 and Jonathan #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Harry was ranked #31 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Harry was ranked #40 and Jonathan #88 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2019, Harry was ranked #431 and Jonathan #57 among boys in Norway.
Harry and Jonathan over time
Harry and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 182 years of shared records. Harry held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jonathan in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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 5 of those lists, Harry in 1. 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, Harry moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2003 as Jonathan fell out of it to #52, having been #40 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Harry moved ahead of Jonathan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #71 and #58 the year before became #57 and #63.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Harry and Jonathan changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1949 and 2019, ending at #431 and #57.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Harry and Jonathan averaged 38.5 places apart, ending at #27 and #97.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Harry rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #94 and #50 in 1992 to #27 and #97 in 2016.
- Longest-running competitions
Harry and Jonathan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #25 and #223.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1965–2025
Harry held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jonathan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Harry #6 in 2018, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order changed in 1999: Harry moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #100 and #86; by 1999 that had become #70 and #87.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harry #25, Jonathan #223.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Harry held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Harry #1 in 2011, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harry #20, Jonathan #302.
Norway · Boys29 shared years, 1949–2019
Harry held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Jonathan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Harry #70 in 1949, Jonathan #53 in 2017.
The order changed in 1980: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #446 and #524; by 1980 that had become #634 and #278.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Harry #431, Jonathan #57.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Harry held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Jonathan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Harry #4 in 2012, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order changed in 2003: Harry moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #41 and #40; by 2003 that had become #36 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harry #13, Jonathan #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys24 shared years, 1992–2016
Harry held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Jonathan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Harry #27 in 2012, Jonathan #50 in 1992.
The order changed in 1998: Harry moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #71 and #58; by 1998 that had become #57 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Harry #27, Jonathan #97.
New Zealand · Boys15 shared years, 1994–2013
Harry held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Jonathan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Harry #37 in 2004, Jonathan #30 in 1994.
The order changed in 2000: Harry moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #66 and #49; by 2000 that had become #58 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Harry #40, Jonathan #88.
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 | Harry | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A diminutive/pet form, inheriting its meaning from Henry — 'home ruler' — and functioning, in modern times, as a nickname for both Henry and names beginning with 'Har-'. During the Middle Ages in England, Henry was generally rendered as Harry or Herry in English pronunciation. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhæri/ | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Harry has a recorded origin (English, medieval form/diminutive of Henry); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Harry has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- A meaning is recorded for Harry; Jonathan 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
Harry
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #70 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #39 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