Jonathan vs Karl
Jonathan and Karlcompared 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 · Boys
In 1994, Jonathan was ranked #30 and Karl #98 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1974, Jonathan was ranked #76 and Karl #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #93 and Karl #179 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Jonathan was ranked #207 and Karl #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Karl #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Karl #2088 among boys in England and Wales.
Jonathan and Karl over time
Jonathan and Karl appear together in 5 published lists, across 209 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Karl 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.
Karl reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Jonathan in 1. 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 1997, Jonathan moved ahead of Karl in Norway · Boys — #100 and #83 the year before became #86 and #91.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Karl changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #223 and #829.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Jonathan and Karl averaged 21.5 places apart, ending at #30 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Karl were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 33 years, from 1962 to 1994, ending at #30 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jonathan #39 in 1996, Karl #110 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys64 shared years, 1949–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Karl in 35.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Karl #42 in 1949.
The order changed in 1997: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #100 and #83; by 1997 that had become #86 and #91.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #93, Karl #179.
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Karl in 10.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Karl #47 in 1989.
The order changed in 2002: Jonathan moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #86 and #78; by 2002 that had become #82 and #112.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Karl #829.
New Zealand · Boys33 shared years, 1962–1994
Jonathan held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Karl in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #15 in 1982, Karl #33 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Jonathan #30, Karl #98.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Karl in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Karl #110 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Karl #2088.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Jonathan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Karl in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Karl #93 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jonathan #207, Karl #414.
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 | Karl |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | Norway · Boys #179 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Karl.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
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
Karl
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #35 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1962–1994
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1962–1994).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #179 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys