Namewise

Jason vs Richard

Jason and Richardcompared 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 1997, Jason was ranked #47 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1999, Jason was ranked #88 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Jason was ranked #135 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Jason was ranked #187 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Jason was ranked #199 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Jason was ranked #264 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2023, Jason was ranked #463 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.

Jason and Richard over time

Jason and Richard appear together in 6 published lists, across 220 years of shared records. Jason held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Richard 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 3 of those lists, Richard in 2. 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 1998, Jason moved ahead of Richard in England and Wales · Boys — #72 and #71 the year before became #80 and #82.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Jason and Richard changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1966 and 1999, ending at #88 and #81.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jason and Richard averaged 30.3 places apart, ending at #47 and #98.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Jason and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #187 and #431.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jason #69 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #69 and #62 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #187 and #431.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025

    Jason held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Richard in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Jason #18 in 1974, Richard #20 in 1986.

    The order changed in 1991: Jason moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #32 and #28; by 1991 that had become #27 and #35.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Jason #135, Richard #232.

  • Norway · Boys37 shared years, 1969–2023

    Jason held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Richard in 33.

    Highest recorded here: Jason #330 in 1972, Richard #80 in 1979.

    The order changed in 2020: Jason moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #452 and #359; by 2020 that had become #346 and #474.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Jason #463, Richard #481.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1964–1997

    Jason held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Richard in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1971, Richard #18 in 1964.

    The order changed in 1969: Jason moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #24 and #18; by 1969 that had become #12 and #21.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Jason #47, Richard #98.

  • New Zealand · Boys34 shared years, 1966–1999

    Jason held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Richard in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1970, Richard #9 in 1966.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1999: Jason #88, Richard #81.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Jason held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Richard in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Jason #69 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.

    The order changed in 1998: Jason moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #72 and #71; by 1998 that had become #80 and #82.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Jason #187, Richard #431.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022

    Jason held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Richard in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Jason #36 in 1998, Richard #77 in 1999.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Jason #264, Richard #311.

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.

Other comparisons involving Richard

Pairs where Richard shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Jason, Richard
FieldJasonRichard
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom 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 Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century.
OriginGreekGermanic
Pronunciation/ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən//ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Jason is recorded with a Greek origin, while Richard is recorded with a Germanic origin.
  • Jason and Richard both have 2 syllables.
  • Jason's recorded meaning differs from Richard'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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2005

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2005).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #187 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Richard

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–1999

    Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys