Jonathan vs Sean
Jonathan and Sean 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Sean #48 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2007, Jonathan was ranked #66 and Sean #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2022, Jonathan was ranked #74 and Sean #496 among boys in Norway.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Jonathan was ranked #91 and Sean #83 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Sean #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Sean #234 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #296 and Sean #615 among boys in England and Wales.
Jonathan and Sean 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 Sean over time
Jonathan and Sean appear together in 6 published lists, across 254 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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, Sean 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 2003, Jonathan moved ahead of Sean in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #68 and #61 the year before became #72 and #82.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Sean changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #296 and #615.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 44 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Sean averaged 15.9 places apart, ending at #66 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Sean were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #296 and #615.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jonathan #39 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #39 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #296 and #615.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sean in 58.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Sean #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Sean #141.
New Zealand · Boys45 shared years, 1963–2007
Jonathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sean in 16.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #15 in 1982, Sean #28 in 1995.
The order changed in 2005: Sean moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #66 and #71; by 2005 that had become #86 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Jonathan #91, Sean #83.
Norway · Boys45 shared years, 1968–2022
Jonathan held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Sean in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #32 in 2011, Sean #185 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jonathan #74, Sean #496.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys44 shared years, 1963–2007
Jonathan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Sean in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #41 in 1980, Sean #29 in 1967.
The order changed in 2003: Jonathan moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #68 and #61; by 2003 that had become #72 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Jonathan #66, Sean #85.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Sean in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #296, Sean #615.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 28.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Sean #13 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Sean #48.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Jonathan
Pairs where Jonathan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jonathan vs Graham
In 1964 they stood at #125 and #129 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #203 and #770.
Jonathan · Graham · 54 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jonathan vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #39 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #296 and #716.
Jonathan · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Espen vs Jonathan
Over 64 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Espen fell — from #222 and #371 in 1949 to #430 and #93 in 2025.
Espen · Jonathan · 64 shared years, 1949–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Tommy vs Jonathan
Over 63 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Tommy fell — from #243 and #371 in 1949 to #503 and #90 in 2024.
Tommy · Jonathan · 63 shared years, 1949–2024 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Sean
Pairs where Sean shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sean vs Kenneth
In 1964 they stood at #38 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #123 and #785.
Sean · Kenneth · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Henry
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #58 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #615 and #13.
Sean · Henry · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Edward
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #45 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #615 and #31.
Sean · Edward · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #615.
John · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs from England and Wales lists
Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Freya vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #118 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #4201.
Freya · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Poppy
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #92 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #7.
Nicola · Poppy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Sophia
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #95 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #13.
Nicola · Sophia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mia vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #116 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #21 and #4201.
Mia · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jonathan | Sean |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Irish form of John, ultimately carrying the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious' via its Hebrew ancestry. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ʃɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| 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 #141 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sean has a recorded origin (Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Sean.
- A meaning is recorded for Sean; 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
Sean
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #615 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys