John vs Rayan
John and Rayancompared 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 Rayan #272 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, John was ranked #78 and Rayan #278 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, John was ranked #79 and Rayan #352 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, John was ranked #161 and Rayan #158 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, John was ranked #164 and Rayan #188 among boys in England and Wales.
John and Rayan over time
John and Rayan appear together in 3 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. John held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rayan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
John reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Rayan 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
John held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Rayan in 0.
Highest recorded here: John #46 in 1996, Rayan #175 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: John #164, Rayan #188.
Norway · Boys23 shared years, 2002–2025
John held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Rayan in 1.
Highest recorded here: John #68 in 2002, Rayan #145 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: John #161, Rayan #158.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2005–2025
John held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Rayan in 0.
Highest recorded here: John #17 in 2005, Rayan #263 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: John #29, Rayan #272.
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 | Rayan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #29 (2025) | Norway · Boys #158 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- John has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Rayan does not have one recorded yet.
- John and Rayan both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for John; Rayan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
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
Rayan
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2357 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #145 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 2002–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #158 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys