Levi vs Nathan
Levi and Nathancompared 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 2018, Levi was ranked #20 and Nathan #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, Levi was ranked #28 and Nathan #70 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Levi was ranked #130 and Nathan #62 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Levi was ranked #83 and Nathan #71 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Levi was ranked #84 and Nathan #118 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Levi was ranked #86 and Nathan #344 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Levi was ranked #109 and Nathan #88 among boys in England and Wales.
Levi and Nathan over time
Levi and Nathan appear together in 6 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Nathan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Levi 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.
Nathan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Levi 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Levi moved into the top 50 at #37 in 2009 as Nathan fell out of it to #53, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Levi moved ahead of Nathan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #66 and #39 the year before became #37 and #53.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Levi and Nathan averaged 32.8 places apart, ending at #28 and #70.
- Mirrored each other
Over 34 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Levi rose about as far as Nathan fell — from #98 and #32 in 1990 to #28 and #70 in 2023.
- Longest-running competitions
Levi and Nathan were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 34 years, from 1990 to 2023, ending at #28 and #70.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Levi #65 in 2019, Nathan #236 in 2017.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys34 shared years, 1990–2023
Levi held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Nathan in 19.
Highest recorded here: Levi #22 in 2014, Nathan #14 in 1995.
The order changed in 2009: Levi moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #44 and #33; by 2009 that had become #36 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Levi #28, Nathan #70.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Levi held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Levi #109 in 2024, Nathan #24 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Levi #109, Nathan #88.
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1988–2025
Levi held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Levi #83 in 2025, Nathan #26 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Levi #83, Nathan #71.
Norway · Boys28 shared years, 1990–2025
Levi held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Nathan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Levi #65 in 2019, Nathan #236 in 2017.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Levi #86, Nathan #344.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1999–2024
Levi held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Nathan in 22.
Highest recorded here: Levi #63 in 2023, Nathan #15 in 2000.
The order changed in 2023: Levi moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #91 and #85; by 2023 that had become #63 and #98.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Levi #84, Nathan #118.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 2004–2018
Levi held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Nathan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Levi #20 in 2018, Nathan #27 in 2004.
The order changed in 2009: Levi moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #66 and #39; by 2009 that had become #37 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Levi #20, Nathan #84.
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 | Levi | Nathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Possibly means 'joined' or 'attached' in Hebrew, referencing Levi (third son of Jacob and Leah) as ancestor of the Levite priestly tribe. Behind the Name flags the etymology itself as uncertain. | Commonly interpreted as 'he gave' or 'he has given'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːvaɪ/ | /ˈneɪθən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #8 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Both Levi and Nathan share a recorded Biblical Hebrew origin.
- Levi and Nathan both have 2 syllables.
- Levi's recorded meaning differs from Nathan's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Levi
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #332 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Nathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #267 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2018
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1981 (recorded 1969–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #344 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys