Jesse vs William
Jesse 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 2014, Jesse was ranked #93 and William #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2017, Jesse was ranked #99 and William #4 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #54 and William #27 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #102 and William #64 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #290 and William #66 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jesse was ranked #141 and William #73 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2016, Jesse was ranked #2008 and William #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Jesse and William over time
Jesse and William appear together in 5 published lists, across 153 years of shared records. William held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jesse in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
William reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jesse and William averaged 46.3 places apart, ending at #93 and #2.
- Longest-running competitions
Jesse and William were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1985 to 2014, ending at #93 and #2.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2025
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 42.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #133 in 2023, William #8 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jesse #141, William #73.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1981–2017
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 32.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #18 in 1990, William #3 in 2008.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jesse #99, William #4.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1985–2014
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 30.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #30 in 1996, William #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Jesse #93, William #2.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #54 in 2024, William #7 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #54, William #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, William in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #102 in 2024, William #26 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #102, William #64.
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 | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈwɪljəm/ |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) | Norway · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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)); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Jesse and William both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for William; 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
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 #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys