Jan vs Jillian
Jan and Jilliancompared 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 · Girls
In 1955, Jan was ranked #74 and Jillian #87 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1966, Jan was ranked #82 and Jillian #93 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1997, Jan was ranked #576 and Jillian #496 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2010, Jan was ranked #4688 and Jillian #4688 among girls in England and Wales.
Jan and Jillian over time
Jan and Jillian appear together in 2 published lists, across 23 years of shared records. Jillian held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jan 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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, Jan moved ahead of Jillian in New Zealand · Girls — #81 and #78 the year before became #82 and #93.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jan and Jillian changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1954 and 1966, ending at #82 and #93.
List by list
New Zealand · Girls13 shared years, 1954–1966
Jan held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Jillian in 7.
Highest recorded here: Jan #47 in 1961, Jillian #44 in 1954.
The order changed in 1966: Jan moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #81 and #78; by 1966 that had become #82 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Jan #82, Jillian #93.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1964–1997
Jan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jillian in 9.
Highest recorded here: Jan #327 in 1964, Jillian #180 in 1978.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jan #576, Jillian #496.
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 | Jan | Jillian |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| Meaning | A form of Johannes used across many European languages, from Hebrew Yochanan via Greek Ioannes — 'Yahweh is gracious'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjɑːn/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #149 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jan has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission); Jillian does not have one recorded yet.
- Jan has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Jillian.
- A meaning is recorded for Jan; Jillian doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Jan
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #2 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1946 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #149 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Jillian
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #87 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #44 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls