Jan vs Paul
Jan and Paul 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Jan was ranked #111 and Paul #370 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jan was ranked #372 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jan was ranked #535 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Jan was ranked #352 and Paul #352 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jan was ranked #639 and Paul #602 among boys in England and Wales.
Jan and Paul 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.
Jan and Paul over time
Jan and Paul appear together in 4 published lists, across 164 years of shared records. Paul held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jan in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Jan 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jan and Paul changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1967 and 2025, ending at #372 and #286.
- Longest-running competitions
Jan and Paul were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #639 and #602.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Jan #1 in 1946, Paul #67 in 1946.
List by list
Norway · Boys80 shared years, 1945–2024
Jan held the stronger position in 80 of those years, Paul in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jan #1 in 1946, Paul #67 in 1946.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jan #111, Paul #370.
Republic of Ireland · Boys39 shared years, 1967–2025
Jan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Paul in 37.
Highest recorded here: Jan #114 in 2012, Paul #3 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jan #372, Paul #286.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Paul in 17.
Highest recorded here: Jan #226 in 2017, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jan #639, Paul #602.
Northern Ireland · Boys15 shared years, 2005–2022
Jan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Paul in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jan #222 in 2010, Paul #63 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jan #352, Paul #352.
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 Jan
Pairs where Jan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jan vs Aksel
Jan and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #149 and #25.
Jan · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Jan vs Anders
Jan and Anders were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #149 and #293.
Jan · Anders · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Jan vs Christian
Jan and Christian were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #149 and #131.
Jan · Christian · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- David vs Jan
David and Jan were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #88 and #149.
David · Jan · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other comparisons involving Paul
Pairs where Paul shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Paul vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #72 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #602 and #2014.
Paul · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Paul vs Craig
In 1996 they stood at #72 and #81 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #602 and #1705.
Paul · Craig · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Paul vs Mitchell
In 1996 they stood at #72 and #79 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #602 and #1538.
Paul · Mitchell · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Paul
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #72 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #602.
Patrick · Paul · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from Norway lists
Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · 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 | Jan | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A form of Johannes used across many European languages, from Hebrew Yochanan via Greek Ioannes — 'Yahweh is gracious'. | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjɑːn/ | /ˈpɔːl/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 | Norway · Boys #149 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jan is recorded with a Hebrew, via Dutch/Scandinavian/Central European transmission origin, while Paul is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Jan and Paul both have 1 syllable.
- Jan's recorded meaning differs from Paul's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, 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 #639 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #602 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys