Jason vs Jesse
Jason and Jessecompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #197 and Jesse #54 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Jason was ranked #91 and Jesse #56 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2004, Jason was ranked #85 and Jesse #80 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #305 and Jesse #102 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jason was ranked #135 and Jesse #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #199 and Jesse #290 among boys in Scotland.
Jason and Jesse over time
Jason and Jesse appear together in 5 published lists, across 134 years of shared records. Jason held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jesse in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jason reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jesse 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 2013, Jesse moved ahead of Jason in England and Wales · Boys — #165 and #198 the year before became #155 and #141.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jason and Jesse averaged 20.0 places apart, ending at #91 and #56.
- Longest-running competitions
Jason and Jesse were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 42 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #135 and #141.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2025
Jason held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Jesse in 2.
Highest recorded here: Jason #19 in 1989, Jesse #133 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jason #135, Jesse #141.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Jesse in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jason #69 in 1996, Jesse #54 in 2024.
The order changed in 2013: Jesse moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #165 and #198; by 2013 that had become #155 and #141.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #197, Jesse #54.
New Zealand · Boys22 shared years, 1981–2004
Jason held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Jesse in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jason #8 in 1981, Jesse #18 in 1990.
The order changed in 1991: Jesse moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #16 and #18; by 1991 that had become #24 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Jason #85, Jesse #80.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1985–2005
Jason held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Jesse in 9.
Highest recorded here: Jason #17 in 1985, Jesse #30 in 1996.
The order changed in 2003: Jesse moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #63 and #72; by 2003 that had become #77 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Jason #91, Jesse #56.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Jesse in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jason #42 in 1997, Jesse #102 in 2024.
The order changed in 2019: Jesse moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #135 and #141; by 2019 that had become #209 and #169.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #305, Jesse #102.
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 | Jason | Jesse |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Ancient Greek Iason, meaning 'healer'. In Greek mythology, Jason led the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece; the name also appears in the New Testament as a Hellenized form possibly of a Hebrew name. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jason has a recorded origin (Greek); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Jason and Jesse both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jason; Jesse 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
Jason
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2005
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2005).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Jesse
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2017
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–2017).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys