Jonathan vs Rafael
Jonathan and Rafaelcompared 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 2025, Jonathan was ranked #93 and Rafael #328 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Jonathan was ranked #207 and Rafael #234 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Rafael #215 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Rafael #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Rafael #619 among boys in Scotland.
Jonathan and Rafael over time
Jonathan and Rafael appear together in 3 published lists, across 98 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rafael in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 3 of those lists, and Rafael 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 Rafael changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1963 and 2025, ending at #93 and #328.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Rafael were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 48 years, from 1963 to 2025, ending at #93 and #328.
List by list
Norway · Boys48 shared years, 1963–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Rafael in 3.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Rafael #222 in 2020.
The order changed in 1979: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #524 and #427; by 1979 that had become #326 and #542.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #93, Rafael #328.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Rafael in 7.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Rafael #181 in 2022.
The order changed in 2018: Rafael moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #227 and #239; by 2018 that had become #238 and #203.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Rafael #215.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2005–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Rafael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #90 in 2005, Rafael #306 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Rafael #329.
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 | Rafael |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | Norway · Boys #328 (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 Rafael.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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 #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Rafael
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #445 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #181 among boys in England and Wales, in 2022 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #328 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys