Jonas vs Liam
Jonas and Liam 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jonas was ranked #49 and Liam #7 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonas was ranked #468 and Liam #7 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonas was ranked #727 and Liam #47 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Jonas was ranked #272 and Liam #52 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jonas was ranked #716 and Liam #68 among boys in England and Wales.
Jonas and Liam 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.
Jonas and Liam over time
Jonas and Liam appear together in 4 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jonas in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2018, Liam moved ahead of Jonas in Norway · Boys — #7 and #9 the year before became #11 and #7.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonas and Liam were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #716 and #68.
List by list
Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1982–2025
Jonas held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Liam in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jonas #1 in 2006, Liam #3 in 2015.
The order changed in 2018: Liam moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #7 and #9; by 2018 that had become #11 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonas #49, Liam #7.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jonas held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 30.
Highest recorded here: Jonas #422 in 2018, Liam #10 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonas #716, Liam #68.
Republic of Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 2005–2025
Jonas held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jonas #313 in 2016, Liam #6 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonas #468, Liam #7.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 2009–2023
Jonas held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jonas #215 in 2018, Liam #37 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Jonas #272, Liam #52.
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 Jonas
Pairs where Jonas shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jonas vs Morten
Over 77 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonas rose about as far as Morten fell — from #257 and #107 in 1945 to #49 and #214 in 2025.
Jonas · Morten · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Jonas vs Nils
Over 77 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonas rose about as far as Nils fell — from #257 and #26 in 1945 to #49 and #61 in 2025.
Jonas · Nils · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Jonas
Over 77 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonas rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #257 in 1945 to #174 and #49 in 2025.
Peter · Jonas · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Jonas vs Tommy
Over 76 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonas rose about as far as Tommy fell — from #257 and #268 in 1945 to #45 and #503 in 2024.
Jonas · Tommy · 76 shared years, 1945–2024 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Liam
Pairs where Liam shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Liam vs Ciaran
In 1964 they stood at #54 and #49 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #372.
Liam · Ciaran · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Liam vs Darren
In 1997 they stood at #48 and #52 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #42 and #404.
Liam · Darren · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Liam vs Jonathan
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #54 and #125 in 1964 to #7 and #223 in 2025.
Liam · Jonathan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Liam vs Shane
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam rose about as far as Shane fell — from #54 and #75 in 1964 to #7 and #152 in 2025.
Liam · Shane · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Norway lists
Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- 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 | Jonas | Liam |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with the biblical figure Jonah; some traditions link the underlying Hebrew root to 'dove'. | A short form, inheriting its meaning from William — 'resolute protection' or 'will helmet'. |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Greek; used in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German tradition | Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjuː.nas/ | /ˈliːəm/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #49 (2025) | Norway · Boys #7 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jonas is recorded with a Hebrew, via Greek; used in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German tradition origin, while Liam is recorded with a Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) origin.
- Jonas has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
- Jonas's recorded meaning differs from Liam's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Jonas
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #257 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Liam
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #54 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1986–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New Zealand, in 2010 (recorded 1986–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #68 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys