Ivan vs Valentine
Ivan and Valentinecompared 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 · Boys
In 2024, Ivan was ranked #274 and Valentine #1859 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Ivan was ranked #327 and Valentine #655 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Ivan and Valentine over time
Ivan and Valentine appear together in 2 published lists, across 52 years of shared records. Ivan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Valentine in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Valentine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ivan 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 1966, Ivan moved ahead of Valentine in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #119 and #119 the year before became #116 and #144.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #147 and #139 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #327 and #655.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1964–2024
Ivan held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Valentine in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ivan #91 in 1969, Valentine #119 in 1965.
The order changed in 1966: Ivan moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #119 and #119; by 1966 that had become #116 and #144.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ivan #327, Valentine #655.
England and Wales · Boys25 shared years, 1998–2024
Ivan held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Valentine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ivan #248 in 2022, Valentine #1189 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ivan #274, Valentine #1859.
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 | Ivan | Valentine |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | The Slavic form of John, commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Old Church Slavic, via Greek Ioannes | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈaɪvən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #235 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #655 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ivan has a recorded origin (Old Church Slavic, via Greek Ioannes); Valentine does not have one recorded yet.
- Ivan has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Valentine.
- A meaning is recorded for Ivan; Valentine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Ivan
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #192 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1959
Highest recorded position: #83 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1959).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #235 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Valentine
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #139 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 recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #119 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls