Nathan vs Simon
Nathan and Simoncompared 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 1997, Nathan was ranked #19 and Simon #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Nathan was ranked #20 and Simon #83 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Nathan was ranked #62 and Simon #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Nathan was ranked #71 and Simon #244 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Nathan was ranked #85 and Simon #311 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nathan was ranked #88 and Simon #524 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Nathan was ranked #344 and Simon #159 among boys in Norway.
Nathan and Simon over time
Nathan and Simon appear together in 6 published lists, across 192 years of shared records. Nathan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Simon 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.
Simon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Nathan 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 1975, Nathan moved ahead of Simon in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #26 and #25 the year before became #23 and #24.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Nathan and Simon averaged 31.6 places apart, ending at #19 and #94.
- Longest-running competitions
Nathan and Simon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 54 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #71 and #244.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Nathan #15 in 2000, Simon #95 in 2000.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys54 shared years, 1968–2025
Nathan held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Simon in 21.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #26 in 1999, Simon #46 in 1987.
The order changed in 1993: Nathan moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #84 and #66; by 1993 that had become #67 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathan #71, Simon #244.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #24 in 2002, Simon #87 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nathan #88, Simon #524.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys29 shared years, 1969–1997
Nathan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Simon in 6.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #10 in 1981, Simon #24 in 1970.
The order changed in 1975: Nathan moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #26 and #25; by 1975 that had become #23 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Nathan #19, Simon #94.
Norway · Boys29 shared years, 1982–2025
Nathan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Simon in 29.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #236 in 2017, Simon #37 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathan #344, Simon #159.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1969–1997
Nathan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Simon in 19.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #14 in 1995, Simon #12 in 1976.
The order changed in 1990: Nathan moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #29 and #28; by 1990 that had become #32 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Nathan #20, Simon #83.
Northern Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1997–2022
Nathan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Simon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #15 in 2000, Simon #95 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Nathan #85, Simon #311.
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 | Nathan | Simon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'he gave' or 'he has given'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈneɪθən/ | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) | Norway · Boys #159 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nathan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Simon does not have one recorded yet.
- Nathan and Simon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nathan; Simon 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
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
Simon
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #266 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1997
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1976 (recorded 1954–1997).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys