Jonathan vs Richard
Jonathan and Richard compared 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 1999, Jonathan was ranked #49 and Richard #81 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Jonathan was ranked #58 and Richard #98 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2023, Jonathan was ranked #80 and Richard #481 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Jonathan was ranked #207 and Richard #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Richard #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #296 and Richard #431 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Richard #619 among boys in Scotland.
Jonathan and Richard over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Jonathan and Richard over time
Jonathan and Richard appear together in 6 published lists, across 255 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Richard 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.
Richard reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Jonathan in 2. 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 1986, Jonathan moved ahead of Richard in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #47 and #40 the year before became #42 and #46.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Richard changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #223 and #232.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Richard averaged 31.8 places apart, ending at #58 and #98.
- Mirrored each other
Over 62 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Richard fell — from #371 and #226 in 1949 to #80 and #481 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Richard were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #296 and #431.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jonathan #39 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1949–2023
Jonathan held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Richard in 31.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Richard #80 in 1979.
The order changed in 1993: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #140 and #119; by 1993 that had become #122 and #136.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Jonathan #80, Richard #481.
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Richard in 28.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Richard #20 in 1986.
The order changed in 2022: Jonathan moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #204 and #204; by 2022 that had become #192 and #205.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Richard #232.
New Zealand · Boys42 shared years, 1957–1999
Jonathan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Richard in 33.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #15 in 1982, Richard #9 in 1965.
The order changed in 1991: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #29 and #26; by 1991 that had become #28 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Jonathan #49, Richard #81.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1963–1997
Jonathan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Richard in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #41 in 1980, Richard #18 in 1964.
The order changed in 1986: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #47 and #40; by 1986 that had become #42 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jonathan #58, Richard #98.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Richard #62 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #296, Richard #431.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Jonathan held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Richard in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Richard #77 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jonathan #207, Richard #311.
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 | Richard |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Old German elements 'rih' (ruler, king) and 'hart' (hard, firm, brave, hardy) — 'brave ruler'. Introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈɹɪt͡ʃ.əɹd/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Richard has a recorded origin (Germanic); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Richard.
- A meaning is recorded for Richard; 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 #296 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Richard
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #219 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #431 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys