Jonathan vs Martin
Jonathan and Martincompared 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 1992, Jonathan was ranked #27 and Martin #99 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1992, Jonathan was ranked #50 and Martin #97 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #93 and Martin #69 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Martin #102 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Martin #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Martin #346 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Martin #352 among boys in Scotland.
Jonathan and Martin over time
Jonathan and Martin appear together in 6 published lists, across 241 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Martin in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Martin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jonathan 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 1979, Jonathan moved ahead of Martin in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #67 and #65 the year before became #54 and #63.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Martin changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #302 and #346.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Martin averaged 27.4 places apart, ending at #50 and #97.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Martin fell — from #92 and #46 in 1957 to #27 and #99 in 1992.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Martin were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1963 to 1992, ending at #50 and #97.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jonathan #39 in 1996, Martin #109 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys64 shared years, 1949–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Martin in 64.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Martin #1 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #93, Martin #69.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Martin in 61.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Martin #9 in 1964.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Martin #102.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1963–1992
Jonathan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Martin in 15.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #41 in 1980, Martin #41 in 1967.
The order changed in 1979: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #67 and #65; by 1979 that had become #54 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Jonathan #50, Martin #97.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Martin in 2.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Martin #109 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Martin #346.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1957–1992
Jonathan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Martin in 11.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1980, Martin #34 in 1963.
The order changed in 1969: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #58 and #44; by 1969 that had become #41 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Jonathan #27, Martin #99.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Martin in 7.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Martin #49 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Martin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #200 and #272; by 2024 that had become #305 and #216.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Martin #216.
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 | Martin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From the Roman name Martinus, connected to Mars, the Roman god of war. Widely known through Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop and patron saint of France. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Latin (Ancient Roman) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmɑɹ.tɪn/ |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | Norway · Boys #69 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Martin has a recorded origin (Latin (Ancient Roman)); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Martin.
- A meaning is recorded for Martin; 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
Martin
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #83 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys