Nathan vs Xavier
Nathan and Xaviercompared 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, Nathan was ranked #84 and Xavier #35 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Nathan was ranked #62 and Xavier #535 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2022, Nathan was ranked #82 and Xavier #71 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Nathan was ranked #71 and Xavier #676 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nathan was ranked #88 and Xavier #238 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Nathan was ranked #118 and Xavier #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Nathan and Xavier over time
Nathan and Xavier appear together in 4 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Nathan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Xavier in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 4 of those lists, and Xavier 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, Xavier moved into the top 50 at #30 in 2009 as Nathan fell out of it to #53, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Xavier moved ahead of Nathan in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #39 and #57 the year before became #53 and #30.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nathan and Xavier changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1999 and 2022, ending at #82 and #71.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Nathan and Xavier averaged 22.1 places apart, ending at #82 and #71.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Nathan #26 in 2012, Xavier #257 in 2013.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Xavier in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #24 in 2002, Xavier #158 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nathan #88, Xavier #238.
New Zealand · Boys23 shared years, 1999–2022
Nathan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Xavier in 10.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #22 in 1999, Xavier #29 in 2010.
The order changed in 2017: Xavier moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #43 and #60; by 2017 that had become #61 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Nathan #82, Xavier #71.
Republic of Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 2002–2025
Nathan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Xavier in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #26 in 2012, Xavier #257 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathan #71, Xavier #676.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys14 shared years, 2004–2018
Nathan held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Xavier in 9.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #27 in 2004, Xavier #22 in 2011.
The order changed in 2009: Xavier moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #39 and #57; by 2009 that had become #53 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Nathan #84, Xavier #35.
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 | Xavier |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #43 (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
- Nathan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Xavier does not have one recorded yet.
- Nathan and Xavier both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nathan; Xavier doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, 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
Xavier
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #376 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 recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2011 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #43 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys