Jonathan vs Oliver
Jonathan and Olivercompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2016, Jonathan was ranked #97 and Oliver #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2013, Jonathan was ranked #88 and Oliver #1 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Oliver #3 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #93 and Oliver #5 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Oliver #7 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Oliver #10 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Oliver #18 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Jonathan and Oliver over time
Jonathan and Oliver appear together in 6 published lists, across 231 years of shared records. Oliver held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jonathan in 2.
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, Oliver in 1. 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 1998, Oliver moved ahead of Jonathan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #58 and #68 the year before became #63 and #58.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Oliver changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1966 and 2025, ending at #93 and #5.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Oliver averaged 47.2 places apart, ending at #97 and #1.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Oliver rose about as far as Jonathan fell — from #53 and #89 in 1989 to #97 and #1 in 2016.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Oliver were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 59 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #93 and #5.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Oliver in 28.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Oliver #14 in 1975.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Oliver #18.
Norway · Boys59 shared years, 1966–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Oliver in 33.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Oliver #1 in 2018.
The order changed in 1998: Oliver moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #86 and #103; by 1998 that had become #79 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #93, Oliver #5.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oliver in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Oliver #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Oliver #3.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1989–2016
Jonathan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Oliver in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #50 in 1992, Oliver #1 in 2014.
The order changed in 1998: Oliver moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #58 and #68; by 1998 that had become #63 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Jonathan #97, Oliver #1.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Oliver in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Oliver #3 in 2016.
The order changed in 2006: Oliver moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #56 and #64; by 2006 that had become #63 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Oliver #10.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1983–2013
Jonathan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Oliver in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #19 in 1983, Oliver #1 in 2013.
The order changed in 1997: Oliver moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #37 and #50; by 1997 that had become #50 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Jonathan #88, Oliver #1.
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 | Oliver |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Old French |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɒlɪvər/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Ollie, Olivier, Oliviero |
| 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) | United Kingdom #1 (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
- Oliver has a recorded origin (Old French); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan and Oliver both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Oliver; 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
Oliver
Popularity journey
First recorded1959
First recorded at #478 among boys in Norway in 1959 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys