Jack vs Jason
Jack and Jasoncompared 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 2005, Jack was ranked #1 and Jason #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2004, Jack was ranked #2 and Jason #85 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jack was ranked #2 and Jason #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #4 and Jason #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #7 and Jason #199 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #22 and Jason #197 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #426 and Jason #489 among boys in Norway.
Jack and Jason over time
Jack and Jason appear together in 6 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Jack held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Jason in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jason reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jack 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 1992, Jack moved ahead of Jason in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #26 and #22 the year before became #21 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jack and Jason changed places 12 times in Norway · Boys between 1969 and 2024, ending at #426 and #489.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jack and Jason averaged 43.0 places apart, ending at #1 and #91.
- Mirrored each other
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Jack rose about as far as Jason fell — from #305 and #53 in 1970 to #2 and #135 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Jack and Jason were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 36 years, from 1969 to 2024, ending at #426 and #489.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jack #1 in 1996, Jason #69 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1970–2025
Jack held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Jason in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2000, Jason #18 in 1974.
The order changed in 1995: Jack moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #33 and #24; by 1995 that had become #19 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jack #2, Jason #135.
Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1969–2024
Jack held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Jason in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jack #273 in 1993, Jason #330 in 1972.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jack #426, Jason #489.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jack held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Jason in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 1996, Jason #69 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jack #22, Jason #197.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jack held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Jason in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2001, Jason #36 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jack #4, Jason #305.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys20 shared years, 1986–2005
Jack held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Jason in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2003, Jason #18 in 1987.
The order changed in 1992: Jack moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #26 and #22; by 1992 that had become #21 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Jack #1, Jason #91.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1988–2004
Jack held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Jason in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jack #2 in 2000, Jason #13 in 1989.
The order changed in 1994: Jack moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #37 and #34; by 1994 that had become #24 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Jack #2, Jason #85.
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 | Jack | Jason |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | God is gracious (via John), though now used as an independent name. | From Ancient Greek Iason, meaning 'healer'. In Greek mythology, Jason led the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece; the name also appears in the New Testament as a Hellenized form possibly of a Hebrew name. |
| Origin | English, historically a diminutive of John | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒæk/ | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Jankin | 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 #2 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Jack is recorded with a English, historically a diminutive of John origin, while Jason is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Jack has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Jason.
- Jack's recorded meaning differs from Jason's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Jack a "high" Data Confidence level and Jason a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Jack
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #171 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 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Jason
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2005
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2005).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys