Jessica vs Natasha
Jessica and Natasha compared 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 · Girls
In 2005, Jessica was ranked #5 and Natasha #82 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2008, Jessica was ranked #16 and Natasha #79 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Jessica was ranked #28 and Natasha #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Jessica was ranked #117 and Natasha #736 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jessica was ranked #139 and Natasha #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2015, Jessica was ranked #355 and Natasha #565 among girls in Norway.
Jessica and Natasha over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Jessica and Natasha over time
Jessica and Natasha appear together in 6 published lists, across 205 years of shared records. Jessica held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Natasha in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Natasha reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Jessica 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jessica moved into the top 50 at #36 in 1979 as Natasha fell out of it to #54, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1979, Jessica moved ahead of Natasha in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #72 and #50 the year before became #36 and #54.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jessica and Natasha averaged 37.0 places apart, ending at #16 and #79.
- Mirrored each other
Over 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jessica rose about as far as Natasha fell — from #96 and #50 in 1976 to #16 and #79 in 2008.
- Longest-running competitions
Jessica and Natasha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #139 and #1362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Jessica #12 in 1995, Natasha #69 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2024
Jessica held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Natasha in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #12 in 1995, Natasha #69 in 1996.
The order changed in 1982: Jessica moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #111 and #101; by 1982 that had become #78 and #107.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jessica #117, Natasha #736.
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1970–2015
Jessica held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Natasha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #143 in 2010, Natasha #343 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Jessica #355, Natasha #565.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1976–2008
Jessica held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Natasha in 3.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 1984, Natasha #23 in 1992.
The order changed in 1979: Jessica moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #72 and #50; by 1979 that had become #36 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Jessica #16, Natasha #79.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jessica held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Natasha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 2005, Natasha #33 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jessica #139, Natasha #1362.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1977–2005
Jessica held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Natasha in 2.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 1990, Natasha #13 in 1978.
The order changed in 1979: Jessica moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #26 and #13; by 1979 that had become #12 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Jessica #5, Natasha #82.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2019
Jessica held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Natasha in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #4 in 2008, Natasha #34 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Jessica #28, Natasha #336.
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 Jessica
Pairs where Jessica shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jessica vs Megan
In 1996 they stood at #3 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #139 and #816.
Jessica · Megan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jessica vs Bethany
In 1996 they stood at #3 and #13 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #139 and #585.
Jessica · Bethany · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jessica vs Courtney
In 1997 they stood at #15 and #12 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2017 they were #25 and #432.
Jessica · Courtney · 21 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jessica vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #15 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2017 they were #25 and #432.
Jessica · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Natasha
Pairs where Natasha shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Natasha vs Jodie
In 1996 they stood at #33 and #43 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #1362 and #3035.
Natasha · Jodie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #1362.
Grace · Natasha · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natasha vs Alice
In 1996 they stood at #33 and #25 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #1362 and #52.
Natasha · Alice · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elizabeth vs Natasha
In 1996 they stood at #26 and #33 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #1362.
Elizabeth · Natasha · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jessica | Natasha |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Coined by William Shakespeare for his 1596 play The Merchant of Venice, where it belongs to Shylock's daughter — likely based on the biblical name Iscah, also spelled Jescha/Jischa in some translations of Shakespeare's time. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via a Shakespearean literary coinage | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛs.ɪ.kə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #139 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1362 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jessica has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via a Shakespearean literary coinage); Natasha does not have one recorded yet.
- Jessica and Natasha both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jessica; Natasha doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jessica
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #471 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #139 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Natasha
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1971–2005
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1971–2005).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls