Namewise

Isabel vs Jan

Isabel and Jancompared 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.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2010, Isabel was ranked #58 and Jan #4688 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 1997, Isabel was ranked #235 and Jan #576 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Isabel, Jan
FieldIsabelJan
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedA form of Johannes used across many European languages, from Hebrew Yochanan via Greek Ioannes — 'Yahweh is gracious'.
OriginNot yet recordedHebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission
Pronunciation/ˈjɑːn/
Syllables31
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #127 (2025)Norway · Boys #149 (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

  • Jan has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission); Isabel does not have one recorded yet.
  • Isabel has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Jan.
  • A meaning is recorded for Jan; Isabel 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

Isabel

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1953

    First recorded at #422 among girls in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #45 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #320 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Jan

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #2 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 recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1946 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #149 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys