Jesse vs Jordan
Jesse and Jordancompared 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 2017, Jesse was ranked #99 and Jordan #53 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #54 and Jordan #213 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2014, Jesse was ranked #93 and Jordan #62 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #102 and Jordan #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jesse was ranked #141 and Jordan #179 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #290 and Jordan #169 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Jesse was ranked #559 and Jordan #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #4843 and Jordan #2574 among girls in England and Wales.
Jesse and Jordan over time
Jesse and Jordan appear together in 6 published lists, across 177 years of shared records. Jordan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jesse 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.
Jordan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Jesse 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 2010, Jesse moved ahead of Jordan in England and Wales · Boys — #208 and #148 the year before became #189 and #197.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jesse and Jordan changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #4843 and #2574.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jesse and Jordan averaged 24.7 places apart, ending at #93 and #62.
- Longest-running competitions
Jesse and Jordan were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 31 years, from 1984 to 2017, ending at #99 and #53.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jesse #946 in 1997, Jordan #72 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1978–2025
Jesse held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Jordan in 36.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #133 in 2023, Jordan #20 in 1999.
The order changed in 2025: Jesse moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #179 and #139; by 2025 that had become #141 and #179.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jesse #141, Jordan #179.
New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 1984–2017
Jesse held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Jordan in 25.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #18 in 1990, Jordan #7 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jesse #99, Jordan #53.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Jordan in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #54 in 2024, Jordan #10 in 1997.
The order changed in 2010: Jesse moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #208 and #148; by 2010 that had become #189 and #197.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #54, Jordan #213.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys29 shared years, 1985–2014
Jesse held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Jordan in 24.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #30 in 1996, Jordan #14 in 1994.
The order changed in 1991: Jordan moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #47 and #54; by 1991 that had become #48 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Jesse #93, Jordan #62.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Jordan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #946 in 1997, Jordan #72 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #4843, Jordan #2574.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Jordan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #102 in 2024, Jordan #6 in 1997.
The order changed in 2022: Jesse moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #200 and #200; by 2022 that had become #125 and #234.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #102, Jordan #404.
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 | Jesse | Jordan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Jordan River, from Hebrew Yarden ('descend, flow down'). Crusaders brought water from the river to baptize children in Europe after John the Baptist baptized Jesus there. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew (place name origin) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈd͡ʒɔɹ.dən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jordan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew (place name origin)); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Jesse and Jordan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jordan; Jesse 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
Jesse
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2017
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–2017).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Jordan
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #283 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys