Jackson vs Ryan
Jackson and Ryancompared 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 2023, Jackson was ranked #41 and Ryan #57 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jackson was ranked #198 and Ryan #57 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, Jackson was ranked #90 and Ryan #81 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jackson was ranked #154 and Ryan #104 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jackson was ranked #130 and Ryan #104 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jackson was ranked #131 and Ryan #132 among boys in England and Wales.
Jackson and Ryan over time
Jackson and Ryan appear together in 5 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Ryan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jackson 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.
Ryan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jackson 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 2017, Jackson moved ahead of Ryan in New Zealand · Boys — #24 and #16 the year before became #28 and #40.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jackson and Ryan averaged 18.9 places apart, ending at #90 and #81.
- Longest-running competitions
Jackson and Ryan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 36 years, from 1990 to 2025, ending at #90 and #81.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys36 shared years, 1990–2025
Jackson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ryan in 36.
Highest recorded here: Jackson #27 in 2007, Ryan #8 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jackson #90, Ryan #81.
New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 1993–2023
Jackson held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Ryan in 24.
Highest recorded here: Jackson #21 in 2014, Ryan #10 in 2006.
The order changed in 2017: Jackson moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #24 and #16; by 2017 that had become #28 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Jackson #41, Ryan #57.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jackson held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Ryan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jackson #74 in 2017, Ryan #7 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jackson #131, Ryan #132.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jackson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ryan in 28.
Highest recorded here: Jackson #68 in 2016, Ryan #2 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jackson #154, Ryan #104.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2005–2025
Jackson held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ryan in 21.
Highest recorded here: Jackson #99 in 2017, Ryan #6 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jackson #198, Ryan #57.
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 | Jackson | Ryan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Riain, a patronymic from the given name Rian. The exact meaning of Rian itself remains uncertain, despite a popular but unconfirmed 'little king' gloss. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish (surname origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹaɪ.ən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #90 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #57 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ryan has a recorded origin (Irish (surname origin)); Jackson does not have one recorded yet.
- Jackson has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Ryan.
- A meaning is recorded for Ryan; Jackson doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Jackson
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #89 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in New Zealand, in 2014 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Ryan
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #280 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #81 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys