Namewise

Jonathan vs Liam

Jonathan and Liamcompared 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 2013, Jonathan was ranked #88 and Liam #6 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #93 and Liam #7 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Liam #7 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2016, Jonathan was ranked #97 and Liam #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Liam #42 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Liam #47 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #296 and Liam #68 among boys in England and Wales.

Jonathan and Liam over time

Jonathan and Liam appear together in 6 published lists, across 213 years of shared records. Liam held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jonathan in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 4 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 Liam 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 1990, Liam moved ahead of Jonathan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #53 and #58 the year before became #57 and #56.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Jonathan and Liam changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #305 and #42.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Liam averaged 46.9 places apart, ending at #97 and #13.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Liam rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #41 and #89 in 1983 to #97 and #13 in 2016.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Jonathan and Liam were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #296 and #68.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jonathan #39 in 1996, Liam #10 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Liam in 40.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Liam #6 in 2021.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Liam #7.

  • Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1982–2025

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Liam in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Liam #3 in 2015.

    The order changed in 2010: Liam moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #39 and #50; by 2010 that had become #37 and #27.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #93, Liam #7.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2016

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Liam in 27.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #41 in 1983, Liam #10 in 1997.

    The order changed in 1990: Liam moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #53 and #58; by 1990 that had become #57 and #56.

    Most recent shared year, 2016: Jonathan #97, Liam #13.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Liam #10 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #296, Liam #68.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Liam in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Liam #35 in 2008.

    The order changed in 2007: Liam moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #63 and #67; by 2007 that had become #73 and #59.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Liam #42.

  • New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 1986–2013

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Liam in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #25 in 1988, Liam #2 in 1999.

    The order changed in 1994: Liam moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #33 and #35; by 1994 that had become #30 and #18.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Jonathan #88, Liam #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.

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 Jonathan

Pairs where Jonathan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Liam

Pairs where Liam shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Jonathan, Liam
FieldJonathanLiam
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedA short form, inheriting its meaning from William — 'resolute protection' or 'will helmet'.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish, short form of William (via Uilliam)
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈliːəm/
Syllables31
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #93 (2025)Norway · Boys #7 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Liam has a recorded origin (Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam)); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
  • Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Liam.
  • A meaning is recorded for Liam; 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1957–2013

    Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #296 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Liam

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1986–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New Zealand, in 2010 (recorded 1986–2023).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #68 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys