Jack vs John
Jack and John compared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jack was ranked #2 and John #29 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2021, Jack was ranked #3 and John #86 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2019, Jack was ranked #4 and John #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #4 and John #67 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #7 and John #78 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jack was ranked #24 and John #174 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jack was ranked #432 and John #161 among boys in Norway.
Jack and John over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Jack and John over time
Jack and John appear together in 6 published lists, across 255 years of shared records. Jack held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, John in 1.
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.
John 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 1991, Jack moved ahead of John in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #33 and #23 the year before became #26 and #33.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jack and John averaged 55.2 places apart, ending at #4 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Jack and John were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #24 and #174.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jack #1 in 1996, John #46 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys78 shared years, 1945–2025
Jack held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 78.
Highest recorded here: Jack #151 in 1956, John #12 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jack #432, John #161.
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1970–2025
Jack held the stronger position in 28 of those years, John in 25.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2000, John #1 in 1970.
The order changed in 1998: Jack moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #10 and #5; by 1998 that had become #3 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jack #2, John #29.
New Zealand · Boys34 shared years, 1988–2021
Jack held the stronger position in 28 of those years, John in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2005, John #22 in 1990.
The order changed in 1994: Jack moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #37 and #30; by 1994 that had become #24 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Jack #3, John #86.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1986–2019
Jack held the stronger position in 27 of those years, John in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2003, John #22 in 1988.
The order changed in 1991: Jack moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #33 and #23; by 1991 that had become #26 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Jack #4, John #97.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jack held the stronger position in 30 of those years, John in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 1996, John #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jack #24, John #174.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jack held the stronger position in 28 of those years, John in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2001, John #17 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jack #4, John #67.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Jack
Pairs where Jack shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jack vs Oisin
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Jack rose about as far as Oisin fell — from #305 and #163 in 1970 to #2 and #262 in 2025.
Jack · Oisin · 53 shared years, 1970–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Jack vs Isaac
Jack and Isaac both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Jack · Isaac · 39 shared years, 1976–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Jack vs Max
Jack and Max both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Jack · Max · 41 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Jack vs Adam
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jack #1 in 1996, Adam #16 in 1996.
Jack · Adam · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Peaked in the same years
Other comparisons involving John
Pairs where John shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- John vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #845.
John · Scott · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #716.
John · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #615.
John · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Aksel
John and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #161 and #25.
John · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jack | John |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Hebrew Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious', via Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes. One of the most widespread names in Christian Europe, associated with both John the Baptist and the apostle John. |
| Origin | English, historically a diminutive of John | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒæk/ | /ˈjɔn/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Jankin | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #2 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #29 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Jack is recorded with a English, historically a diminutive of John origin, while John is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Jack and John both have 1 syllable.
- Jack's recorded meaning differs from John'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 John 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #24 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
John
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #20 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys