Jack vs Marcus
Jack and Marcuscompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 2014, Jack was ranked #2 and Marcus #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jack was ranked #2 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #4 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #7 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #14 and Marcus #93 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #22 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jack was ranked #432 and Marcus #150 among boys in Norway.
Jack and Marcus over time
Jack and Marcus appear together in 6 published lists, across 204 years of shared records. Jack held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Marcus in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jack reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Marcus in 1. 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 1986, Jack moved ahead of Marcus in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #170 and #155 the year before became #128 and #146.
- Mirrored each other
Over 53 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Jack rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #305 and #111 in 1970 to #2 and #232 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Jack and Marcus were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 59 years, from 1963 to 2025, ending at #432 and #150.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jack #1 in 2008, Marcus #78 in 2010.
List by list
Norway · Boys59 shared years, 1963–2025
Jack held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Marcus in 51.
Highest recorded here: Jack #201 in 1963, Marcus #24 in 2002.
The order changed in 1972: Marcus moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #334 and #396; by 1972 that had become #416 and #332.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jack #432, Marcus #150.
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1970–2025
Jack held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Marcus in 13.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2000, Marcus #111 in 1970.
The order changed in 1986: Jack moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #170 and #155; by 1986 that had become #128 and #146.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jack #2, Marcus #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jack held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 1996, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jack #22, Marcus #233.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jack held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2001, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jack #4, Marcus #144.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1995–2024
Jack held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2003, Marcus #49 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jack #14, Marcus #93.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1990–2014
Jack held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Marcus in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2008, Marcus #78 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Jack #2, Marcus #90.
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 | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | God is gracious (via John), though now used as an independent name. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English, historically a diminutive of John | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒæk/ | |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Jack has a recorded origin (English, historically a diminutive of John); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Jack has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Marcus.
- A meaning is recorded for Jack; Marcus doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 Marcus 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
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys