John vs Jonathan
John and Jonathancompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, John was ranked #29 and Jonathan #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, John was ranked #60 and Jonathan #88 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, John was ranked #67 and Jonathan #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, John was ranked #78 and Jonathan #352 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, John was ranked #161 and Jonathan #93 among boys in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, John was ranked #95 and Jonathan #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, John was ranked #164 and Jonathan #302 among boys in England and Wales.
John and Jonathan over time
John and Jonathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 287 years of shared records. John held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Jonathan in 0.
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.
John reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jonathan in none. 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 2000, John moved ahead of Jonathan in England and Wales · Boys — #57 and #55 the year before became #58 and #59.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
John and Jonathan changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1963 and 2016, ending at #95 and #97.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, John and Jonathan averaged 53.4 places apart, ending at #164 and #302.
- Longest-running competitions
John and Jonathan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 53 years, from 1963 to 2016, ending at #95 and #97.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — John #46 in 1996, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #17 and #21 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #67 and #305.
List by list
Norway · Boys64 shared years, 1949–2025
John held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Jonathan in 23.
Highest recorded here: John #15 in 1963, Jonathan #32 in 2011.
The order changed in 2003: Jonathan moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #68 and #80; by 2003 that had become #95 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2025: John #161, Jonathan #93.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
John held the stronger position in 62 of those years, Jonathan in 0.
Highest recorded here: John #1 in 1964, Jonathan #18 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: John #29, Jonathan #223.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys53 shared years, 1963–2016
John held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Jonathan in 4.
Highest recorded here: John #5 in 1963, Jonathan #41 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: John #95, Jonathan #97.
New Zealand · Boys51 shared years, 1957–2013
John held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Jonathan in 4.
Highest recorded here: John #2 in 1957, Jonathan #15 in 1982.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: John #60, Jonathan #88.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
John held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Jonathan in 4.
Highest recorded here: John #46 in 1996, Jonathan #39 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: John moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #57 and #55; by 2000 that had become #58 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2024: John #164, Jonathan #302.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
John held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jonathan in 1.
Highest recorded here: John #17 in 1997, Jonathan #20 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: John #67, Jonathan #305.
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 | John | Jonathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Hebrew Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious', via Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes. One of the most widespread names in Christian Europe, associated with both John the Baptist and the apostle John. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjɔn/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #29 (2025) | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- John has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- John has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Jonathan.
- A meaning is recorded for John; Jonathan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
John
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #20 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2019
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #161 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Jonathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #371 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2013
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys