Jeremy vs William
Jeremy and Williamcompared 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 2008, Jeremy was ranked #95 and William #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Jeremy was ranked #86 and William #17 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jeremy was ranked #556 and William #25 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2011, Jeremy was ranked #375 and William #34 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jeremy was ranked #727 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jeremy was ranked #432 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jeremy and William over time
Jeremy and William appear together in 4 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jeremy in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Jeremy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, William 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jeremy and William averaged 32.6 places apart, ending at #95 and #2.
- Longest-running competitions
Jeremy and William were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #556 and #25.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 1965–2025
Jeremy held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 56.
Highest recorded here: Jeremy #121 in 1974, William #8 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jeremy #432, William #73.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys37 shared years, 1970–2008
Jeremy held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 37.
Highest recorded here: Jeremy #48 in 1983, William #2 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Jeremy #95, William #2.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1968–1999
Jeremy held the stronger position in 5 of those years, William in 27.
Highest recorded here: Jeremy #24 in 1977, William #11 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Jeremy #86, William #17.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jeremy held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 30.
Highest recorded here: Jeremy #265 in 1996, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jeremy #556, William #25.
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 Jeremy
Pairs where Jeremy shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sean vs Jeremy
Sean and Jeremy changed places 14 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1970 and 2006, ending at #71 and #85.
Sean · Jeremy · 35 shared years, 1970–2006 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Matthew vs Jeremy
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1982, Jeremy #48 in 1983.
Matthew · Jeremy · 37 shared years, 1970–2008 · Peaked in the same years
- Jonathan vs Jeremy
Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Jeremy averaged 7.6 places apart, ending at #74 and #95.
Jonathan · Jeremy · 37 shared years, 1970–2008 · Closest over the longest run
- George vs Jeremy
Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, George and Jeremy averaged 12.9 places apart, ending at #64 and #95.
George · Jeremy · 37 shared years, 1970–2008 · Closest over the longest run
Other comparisons involving William
Pairs where William shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- William vs Ross
In 1997 they stood at #26 and #30 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #58 and #395.
William · Ross · 27 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Brendan
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #402.
William · Brendan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #352.
William · Bradley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- William vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #21 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #334.
William · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jeremy | William |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈwɪljəm/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- William has a recorded origin (Germanic (Old Frankish/Old High German Willehelm)); Jeremy does not have one recorded yet.
- Jeremy has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for William.
- A meaning is recorded for William; Jeremy 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
Jeremy
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1968–1999
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in New Zealand, in 1977 (recorded 1968–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #556 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
William
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #277 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2009 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys