Namewise

Jonathan vs Scott

Jonathan and Scottcompared 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 2002, Jonathan was ranked #60 and Scott #96 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1999, Jonathan was ranked #64 and Scott #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #93 and Scott #365 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Scott #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Scott #199 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Scott #239 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Scott #1025 among boys in England and Wales.

Jonathan and Scott over time

Jonathan and Scott appear together in 6 published lists, across 244 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Scott in 2.

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.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.

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 1996, Jonathan moved ahead of Scott in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #58 and #51 the year before became #61 and #62.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Jonathan and Scott changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1960 and 2002, ending at #60 and #96.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Scott averaged 41.6 places apart, ending at #64 and #95.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Jonathan and Scott were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 37 years, from 1963 to 1999, ending at #64 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, Scott #48 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #39 and #48 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #302 and #1025.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys56 shared years, 19702025

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Scott in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Scott #42 in 2004.

    The order changed in 2024: Scott moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #203 and #224; by 2024 that had become #187 and #187.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Scott #198.

  • Norway · Boys52 shared years, 19642025

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Scott in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Scott #213 in 2011.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #93, Scott #365.

  • New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 19602002

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Scott in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #15 in 1982, Scott #12 in 1977.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2002: Jonathan #60, Scott #96.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys37 shared years, 19631999

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Scott in 33.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #41 in 1980, Scott #8 in 1973.

    The order changed in 1996: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #58 and #51; by 1996 that had become #61 and #62.

    Most recent shared year, 1999: Jonathan #64, Scott #95.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Scott in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Scott #48 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Scott #1025.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 19972024

    Jonathan held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Scott in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Scott #36 in 2004.

    The order changed in 2024: Scott moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #200 and #395; by 2024 that had become #305 and #239.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Scott #239.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Jonathan, Scott
FieldJonathanScott
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedAn English/Scottish surname referring to a person from Scotland or a Scottish Gaelic speaker, from Latin 'Scoti' ('Gael, Gaelic speaker') — the ultimate origin of that Latin term is itself uncertain.
OriginNot yet recordedEnglish/Scottish (surname origin)
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈskɑt/
Syllables31
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #93 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Scott has a recorded origin (English/Scottish (surname origin)); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
  • Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Scott.
  • A meaning is recorded for Scott; 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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1957–2013

    Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #93 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Scott

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1957

    First recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1957–1999

    Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1973 (recorded 1957–1999).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #365 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys