Jonathan vs Zac
Jonathan and Zaccompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2012, Jonathan was ranked #78 and Zac #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Zac #176 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Zac #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Zac #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #302 and Zac #442 among boys in England and Wales.
Jonathan and Zac over time
Jonathan and Zac appear together in 4 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Jonathan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Zac in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 4 of those lists, and Zac 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2023, Zac moved ahead of Jonathan in Northern Ireland · Boys — #207 and #264 the year before became #200 and #161.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Zac changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #302 and #442.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Zac in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Zac #110 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #302, Zac #442.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Zac in 11.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #21 in 1997, Zac #88 in 2010.
The order changed in 2023: Zac moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #207 and #264; by 2023 that had become #200 and #161.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Zac #216.
Republic of Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 2001–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Zac in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #82 in 2002, Zac #179 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Zac #223.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1998–2012
Jonathan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Zac in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #63 in 1998, Zac #65 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Jonathan #78, Zac #91.
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 | Zac |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #223 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Zac.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Zac
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #276 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded1998–2012
Highest recorded position: #65 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1998–2012).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #223 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys