Jesper vs Leif
Jesper and Leifcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jesper was ranked #55 and Leif #225 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jesper was ranked #3688 and Leif #814 among boys in England and Wales.
Jesper and Leif over time
Jesper and Leif appear together in 2 published lists, across 82 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1993, Jesper moved ahead of Leif in Norway · Boys — #199 and #137 the year before became #174 and #197.
- Longest-running competitions
Jesper and Leif were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 63 years, from 1963 to 2025, ending at #55 and #225.
List by list
Norway · Boys63 shared years, 1963–2025
Jesper held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Leif in 30.
Highest recorded here: Jesper #53 in 2004, Leif #34 in 1963.
The order changed in 1993: Jesper moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #199 and #137; by 1993 that had become #174 and #197.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jesper #55, Leif #225.
England and Wales · Boys19 shared years, 2000–2024
Jesper held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Leif in 16.
Highest recorded here: Jesper #1703 in 2000, Leif #814 in 2024.
The order changed in 2007: Leif moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #3385 and #4052; by 2007 that had become #2211 and #1578.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesper #3688, Leif #814.
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 | Jesper | Leif |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'heir' or 'descendant'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Old Norse |
| Pronunciation | /leɪf/ (also /liːf/) | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Leiv |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, NO | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #55 (2025) | Sweden #88 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Leif has a recorded origin (Old Norse); Jesper does not have one recorded yet.
- Jesper has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Leif.
- A meaning is recorded for Leif; Jesper doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
- The available evidence gives Jesper a "medium" Data Confidence level and Leif a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Jesper
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #480 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #53 among boys in Norway, in 2004 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #55 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Leif
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #17 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #225 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys