Jonathan vs Njål
Jonathan and Njålcompared 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2020, Jonathan was ranked #69 and Njål #431 among boys in Norway.
Jonathan and Njål over time
Jonathan and Njål appear together in 1 published list, across 48 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Njål in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Njål reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Njål changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1949 and 2020, ending at #69 and #431.
- Mirrored each other
Over 48 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Njål fell — from #371 and #279 in 1949 to #69 and #431 in 2020.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Njål were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 48 years, from 1949 to 2020, ending at #69 and #431.
List by list
Norway · Boys48 shared years, 1949–2020
Jonathan held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Njål in 11.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #37 in 2010, Njål #270 in 1960.
The order changed in 1978: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #422 and #315; by 1978 that had become #524 and #529.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Jonathan #69, Njål #431.
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.
- Jonathan vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #125 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #203 and #770.
Jonathan · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jonathan vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #39 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #296 and #716.
Jonathan · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Jonathan
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #39 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #615 and #296.
Sean · Jonathan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Espen vs Jonathan
Over 64 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Espen fell — from #222 and #371 in 1949 to #430 and #93 in 2025.
Espen · Jonathan · 64 shared years, 1949–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Jonathan | Njål |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | Norway · Boys #431 (2020) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Njål.
- Both names have recorded usage in NO.
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 #296 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Njål
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #335 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2020
Highest recorded position: #222 among boys in Norway, in 1962 (recorded 1945–2020).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2020
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in Norway, in 2020.
Norway · Boys