Jason vs Lee
Jason and Leecompared 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 1987, Jason was ranked #15 and Lee #80 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1985, Jason was ranked #17 and Lee #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Jason was ranked #135 and Lee #319 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jason was ranked #135 and Lee #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #197 and Lee #1235 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #199 and Lee #727 among boys in Scotland.
Jason and Lee over time
Jason and Lee appear together in 5 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Jason held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Lee in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 3 of those lists, Lee in 1. 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 1999, Jason moved ahead of Lee in England and Wales · Boys — #80 and #73 the year before became #83 and #91.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Jason and Lee averaged 48.5 places apart, ending at #135 and #319.
- Longest-running competitions
Jason and Lee were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #135 and #348.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jason #69 in 1996, Lee #64 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #64 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #197 and #1235.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1970–2025
Jason held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Lee in 4.
Highest recorded here: Jason #18 in 1974, Lee #42 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jason #135, Lee #348.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Lee in 2.
Highest recorded here: Jason #69 in 1996, Lee #64 in 1996.
The order changed in 1999: Jason moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #80 and #73; by 1999 that had become #83 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #197, Lee #1235.
Northern Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 1997–2018
Jason held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Lee in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jason #36 in 1998, Lee #42 in 1997.
The order changed in 2009: Jason moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #118 and #114; by 2009 that had become #121 and #125.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Jason #135, Lee #319.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1967–1985
Jason held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Lee in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1971, Lee #56 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Jason #17, Lee #84.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1969–1987
Jason held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Lee in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1970, Lee #67 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Jason #15, Lee #80.
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 | Lee |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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 #348 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jason has a recorded origin (Greek); Lee does not have one recorded yet.
- Jason has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Lee.
- A meaning is recorded for Jason; Lee 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
Lee
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2018
Highest recorded position: #42 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2018).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys