Jason vs Paul
Jason and Paulcompared 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 · Boys
In 1998, Jason was ranked #48 and Paul #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1998, Jason was ranked #57 and Paul #86 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jason was ranked #135 and Paul #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #197 and Paul #586 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #199 and Paul #290 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #305 and Paul #278 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #489 and Paul #370 among boys in Norway.
Jason and Paul over time
Jason and Paul appear together in 6 published lists, across 222 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Jason 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 1984, Jason moved ahead of Paul in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #21 and #20 the year before became #21 and #22.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jason and Paul changed places 8 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #305 and #278.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jason and Paul averaged 17.5 places apart, ending at #48 and #86.
- Longest-running competitions
Jason and Paul were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 34 years, from 1964 to 1998, ending at #48 and #86.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jason #69 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #72 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #197 and #586.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Jason held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Paul in 35.
Highest recorded here: Jason #18 in 1974, Paul #3 in 1978.
The order changed in 2006: Jason moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #65 and #54; by 2006 that had become #60 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jason #135, Paul #286.
Norway · Boys38 shared years, 1969–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Paul in 36.
Highest recorded here: Jason #330 in 1972, Paul #96 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #489, Paul #370.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1964–1998
Jason held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Paul in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1971, Paul #4 in 1966.
The order changed in 1984: Jason moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #21 and #20; by 1984 that had become #21 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Jason #48, Paul #86.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1966–1998
Jason held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Paul in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1970, Paul #3 in 1966.
The order changed in 1981: Jason moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #10 and #9; by 1981 that had become #8 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Jason #57, Paul #86.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Paul in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jason #69 in 1996, Paul #72 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #197, Paul #586.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Paul in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jason #36 in 1998, Paul #27 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #305, Paul #278.
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 | Paul |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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 | Greek | Latin |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən/ | /ˈpɔːl/ |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #286 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| 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 is recorded with a Greek origin, while Paul is recorded with a Latin origin.
- Jason has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Paul.
- Jason'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
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
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 #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys