Jonathan vs Philip
Jonathan and Philipcompared 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 Philip #95 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1988, Jonathan was ranked #50 and Philip #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #93 and Philip #91 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Jonathan was ranked #207 and Philip #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Philip #309 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Philip #461 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Philip #619 among boys in Scotland.
Jonathan and Philip over time
Jonathan and Philip appear together in 6 published lists, across 238 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Philip in 0.
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.
Philip reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Jonathan 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 1975, Jonathan moved ahead of Philip in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #76 and #67 the year before became #72 and #75.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Philip changed places 14 times in Norway · Boys between 1949 and 2025, ending at #93 and #91.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Philip averaged 28.1 places apart, ending at #50 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Philip were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 34 years, from 1957 to 1992, ending at #27 and #95.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jonathan #39 in 1996, Philip #103 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1949–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Philip in 16.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Philip #68 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #93, Philip #91.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Philip in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Philip #30 in 1978.
The order changed in 2018: Jonathan moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #169 and #162; by 2018 that had become #180 and #187.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Philip #309.
New Zealand · Boys34 shared years, 1957–1992
Jonathan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Philip in 15.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #15 in 1982, Philip #20 in 1963.
The order changed in 1973: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #39 and #36; by 1973 that had become #32 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Jonathan #27, Philip #95.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Philip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Philip #103 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Philip #461.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2022
Jonathan held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Philip in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Philip #51 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jonathan #207, Philip #311.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1963–1988
Jonathan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Philip in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #41 in 1980, Philip #35 in 1963.
The order changed in 1975: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #76 and #67; by 1975 that had become #72 and #75.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Jonathan #50, Philip #98.
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 | Philip |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 #91 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Philip.
- 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
Philip
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #341 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #91 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys