Jonathan vs Leo
Jonathan and Leocompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Leo #5 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Leo #5 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Jonathan was ranked #97 and Leo #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Leo #10 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Leo #12 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Jonathan was ranked #88 and Leo #24 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #93 and Leo #28 among boys in Norway.
Jonathan and Leo over time
Jonathan and Leo appear together in 5 published lists, across 179 years of shared records. Leo held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jonathan in 2.
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 5 of those lists, and Leo 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 2003, Leo moved ahead of Jonathan in England and Wales · Boys — #80 and #88 the year before became #79 and #77.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Leo changed places 4 times in Norway · Boys between 1960 and 2025, ending at #93 and #28.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Leo rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #125 and #101 in 1964 to #223 and #10 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Leo were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 52 years, from 1960 to 2025, ending at #93 and #28.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Leo in 24.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Leo #10 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Leo #10.
Norway · Boys52 shared years, 1960–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Leo in 11.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Leo #28 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #93, Leo #28.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Leo in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Leo #5 in 2022.
The order changed in 2003: Leo moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #80 and #88; by 2003 that had become #79 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Leo #5.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Leo in 17.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Leo #6 in 2023.
The order changed in 2008: Leo moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #73 and #89; by 2008 that had become #93 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Leo #12.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 2009–2016
Jonathan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Leo in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #78 in 2012, Leo #10 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Jonathan #97, Leo #10.
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 | Leo |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Lion. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈliːoʊ/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #5 (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
- Leo has a recorded origin (Latin); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Leo.
- A meaning is recorded for Leo; 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
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
Leo
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #303 among boys in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2009–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2009–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys