Jonathan vs Jude
Jonathan and Judecompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Jude #6 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Jude #11 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Jude #12 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Jude #61 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jonathan and Jude over time
Jonathan and Jude appear together in 3 published lists, across 109 years of shared records. Jude held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jonathan in 1.
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.
Jonathan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Jude 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 2008, Jude moved ahead of Jonathan in England and Wales · Boys — #102 and #110 the year before became #113 and #103.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Jude changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1965 and 2025, ending at #223 and #61.
- Mirrored each other
Over 52 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Jude rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #137 and #129 in 1965 to #223 and #61 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Jude were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 52 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #223 and #61.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys52 shared years, 1965–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Jude in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Jude #61 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Jude #61.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Jude in 17.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Jude #11 in 2024.
The order changed in 2008: Jude moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #102 and #110; by 2008 that had become #113 and #103.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Jude #11.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Jude in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Jude #6 in 2024.
The order changed in 2005: Jude moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #42 and #61; by 2005 that had become #56 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Jude #6.
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 | Jonathan | Jude |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted through its Hebrew root as connected to 'praise', via its relationship to Judah — Behind the Name frames it more narrowly as a variant of Judas. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via Greek and Latin New Testament forms |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /dʒuːd/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| 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 |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #54 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jude has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Greek and Latin New Testament forms); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Jude.
- A meaning is recorded for Jude; Jonathan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
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
Jude
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #234 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #54 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys