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 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Liam #70 among boys in England and Wales.
Jonathan and Liam over time
Jonathan and Liam appear together in 6 published lists, across 212 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 New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 34 years, from 1983 to 2016, ending at #97 and #13.
- 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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Liam in 29.
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, 2024: Jonathan #302, Liam #70.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Jonathan | Liam |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A short form, inheriting its meaning from William — 'resolute protection' or 'will helmet'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, short form of William (via Uilliam) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈliːəm/ |
| 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) | Norway · Boys #7 (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
- 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
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
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 #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys