Name comparison
James vs John
James is the more common of the two, with roughly 1.1x more bearers worldwide.
Side-by-side
| Metric | James | John |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated bearers worldwide | 8,807,695 | 7,900,000 |
| Global rank | #2 | #4 |
| Rarity (worldwide) | 1 in 908 | 1 in 1,013 |
| Origin | Hebrew, English | Hebrew |
| Predominant gender | Male (99.5%) | Male (99.6%) |
| Countries with data | 11 | 2 |
| U.S. bearers | 2,808,572 | 2,626,987 |
How they differ
James has approximately 8.8M living bearers compared to 7.9M for John - a ratio of about 1.1x.
James originates from Hebrew (supplanter; from Ya'aqov (Jacob)); English (anglicized form of Iacomus, the Late Latin form of Greek Iakobos). John originates from Hebrew (Yochanan - 'graced by God').
Frequently asked questions
Is James or John more popular?
James is more popular worldwide, with approximately 8,807,695 estimated living bearers compared to 7,900,000 for John. That is roughly 1.1x more bearers of James.
What is the difference in origin between James and John?
James originates from Hebrew, English. John originates from Hebrew.
Are James and John used for the same gender?
Both James and John are predominantly used as male names.
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