Jordan vs Rafael
Jordan and Rafaelcompared 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jordan was ranked #169 and Rafael #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jordan was ranked #179 and Rafael #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jordan was ranked #213 and Rafael #215 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Jordan was ranked #234 and Rafael #234 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Jordan and Rafael over time
Jordan and Rafael appear together in 2 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Jordan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Rafael in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Jordan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Rafael 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Jordan #108 in 2022, Rafael #306 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jordan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Rafael in 4.
Highest recorded here: Jordan #10 in 1997, Rafael #181 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jordan #213, Rafael #215.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2005–2025
Jordan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Rafael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jordan #108 in 2022, Rafael #306 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jordan #179, Rafael #329.
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 | Jordan | Rafael |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #90 (2025) | Norway · Boys #328 (2025) |
| 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)); Rafael does not have one recorded yet.
- Jordan and Rafael both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jordan; Rafael doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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 #90 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Rafael
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #445 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #181 among boys in England and Wales, in 2022 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #328 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys