Jordan vs Mervyn
Jordan and Mervyncompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1989, Jordan was ranked #174 and Mervyn #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2017, Jordan was ranked #212 and Mervyn #3996 among boys in England and Wales.
Jordan and Mervyn over time
Jordan and Mervyn appear together in 2 published lists, across 19 years of shared records. Jordan held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Mervyn 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys11 shared years, 1998–2017
Jordan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Mervyn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jordan #10 in 1998, Mervyn #1962 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jordan #212, Mervyn #3996.
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1978–1989
Jordan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Mervyn in 4.
Highest recorded here: Jordan #174 in 1989, Mervyn #176 in 1979.
The order changed in 1989: Jordan moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #304 and #234; by 1989 that had become #174 and #278.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Jordan #174, Mervyn #278.
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 Jordan
Pairs where Jordan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- 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
- 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
- Jordan vs Maisie
In 1996 they stood at #126 and #135 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #43.
Jordan · Maisie · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Niamh vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #120 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #208 and #4201.
Niamh · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jordan | Mervyn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Jordan River, from Hebrew Yarden ('descend, flow down'). Crusaders brought water from the river to baptize children in Europe after John the Baptist baptized Jesus there. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew (place name origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɔɹ.dən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #90 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #3996 (2017) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jordan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew (place name origin)); Mervyn does not have one recorded yet.
- Jordan and Mervyn both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jordan; Mervyn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Jordan
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #283 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Mervyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #85 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1957
Highest recorded position: #85 among boys in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1957).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #3996 among boys in England and Wales, in 2017.
England and Wales · Boys