Jason vs John
Jason and John 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jason was ranked #135 and John #29 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2004, Jason was ranked #85 and John #46 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #305 and John #67 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2005, Jason was ranked #91 and John #70 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #199 and John #78 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #489 and John #136 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jason was ranked #187 and John #174 among boys in England and Wales.
Jason and John 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.
Jason and John over time
Jason and John appear together in 6 published lists, across 238 years of shared records. John held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jason in 2.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
John reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jason 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
Jason and John changed places 10 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1964 and 2005, ending at #91 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Jason and John averaged 45.9 places apart, ending at #187 and #174.
- Longest-running competitions
Jason and John were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #187 and #174.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jason #69 in 1996, John #46 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Jason held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 61.
Highest recorded here: Jason #18 in 1974, John #1 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jason #135, John #29.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys42 shared years, 1964–2005
Jason held the stronger position in 23 of those years, John in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1971, John #5 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Jason #91, John #70.
New Zealand · Boys39 shared years, 1966–2004
Jason held the stronger position in 23 of those years, John in 16.
Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1970, John #5 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Jason #85, John #46.
Norway · Boys38 shared years, 1969–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 38.
Highest recorded here: Jason #330 in 1972, John #21 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #489, John #136.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jason held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 30.
Highest recorded here: Jason #69 in 1996, John #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jason #187, John #174.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 0 of those years, John in 28.
Highest recorded here: Jason #36 in 1998, John #17 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #305, John #67.
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 Jason
Pairs where Jason shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jason vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #187 and #2014.
Jason · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jason vs Mitchell
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #79 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #187 and #1538.
Jason · Mitchell · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jason vs Paul
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #72 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #187 and #602.
Jason · Paul · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jason vs Conor
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #63 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #187 and #578.
Jason · Conor · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving John
Pairs where John shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- John vs Scott
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #845.
John · Scott · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #716.
John · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #615.
John · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Aksel
John and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #161 and #25.
John · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.
- 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 | Jason | John |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From Hebrew Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious', via Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes. One of the most widespread names in Christian Europe, associated with both John the Baptist and the apostle John. |
| Origin | Greek | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən/ | /ˈjɔn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #29 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jason is recorded with a Greek origin, while John is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Jason has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for John.
- Jason's recorded meaning differs from John'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
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 #187 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
John
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #20 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys