Isaac vs Jonathan
Isaac 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Isaac was ranked #12 and Jonathan #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Isaac was ranked #26 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Isaac was ranked #32 and Jonathan #88 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Isaac was ranked #37 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Isaac was ranked #49 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Isaac was ranked #251 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Isaac was ranked #104 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Isaac and Jonathan over time
Isaac and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 189 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 6 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 6 of those lists, and Isaac 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2002, Isaac moved ahead of Jonathan in England and Wales · Boys — #75 and #66 the year before became #63 and #80.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Isaac and Jonathan averaged 45.1 places apart, ending at #12 and #97.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Isaac rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #99 and #57 in 1990 to #12 and #97 in 2016.
- Longest-running competitions
Isaac and Jonathan were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 41 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #251 and #93.
List by list
Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1974–2025
Isaac held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Jonathan in 39.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #164 in 2014, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order changed in 1979: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #609 and #612; by 1979 that had become #618 and #326.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isaac #251, Jonathan #93.
Republic of Ireland · Boys38 shared years, 1964–2025
Isaac held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Jonathan in 21.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #77 in 2014, Jonathan #33 in 1990.
The order changed in 2010: Isaac moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #121 and #117; by 2010 that had become #113 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isaac #104, Jonathan #223.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Isaac held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Jonathan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #20 in 2015, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order changed in 2002: Isaac moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #75 and #66; by 2002 that had become #63 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isaac #37, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Isaac held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Jonathan in 11.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #20 in 2020, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order changed in 2008: Isaac moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #87 and #73; by 2008 that had become #71 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isaac #26, Jonathan #305.
New Zealand · Boys27 shared years, 1981–2013
Isaac held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Jonathan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #28 in 2004, Jonathan #15 in 1982.
The order changed in 1997: Isaac moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #47 and #37; by 1997 that had become #40 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Isaac #32, Jonathan #88.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1990–2016
Isaac held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Jonathan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Isaac #8 in 2015, Jonathan #54 in 1994.
The order changed in 1997: Isaac moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #74 and #61; by 1997 that had become #57 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Isaac #12, Jonathan #97.
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 | Isaac | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally understood as 'he will laugh' or 'he laughs', tied to the biblical narrative in which Abraham and Sarah laugh at the prophecy of Isaac's birth in their old age. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, transmitted into English via Greek Isaak and Late Latin Isaac | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪzək/ | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #26 (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
- Isaac has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, transmitted into English via Greek Isaak and Late Latin Isaac); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Isaac has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- A meaning is recorded for Isaac; 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
Isaac
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1990–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2015 (recorded 1990–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #26 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