Name comparison
James vs Michael
James is the more common of the two, with roughly 1.6x more bearers worldwide.
Side-by-side
| Metric | James | Michael |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated bearers worldwide | 8,807,695 | 5,500,000 |
| Global rank | #2 | #1 |
| Rarity (worldwide) | 1 in 908 | 1 in 1,455 |
| Origin | Hebrew, English | Hebrew |
| Predominant gender | Male (99.5%) | Male (99.5%) |
| Countries with data | 11 | 1 |
| U.S. bearers | 2,808,572 | 3,532,665 |
How they differ
James has approximately 8.8M living bearers compared to 5.5M for Michael - a ratio of about 1.6x.
James originates from Hebrew (supplanter; from Ya'aqov (Jacob)); English (anglicized form of Iacomus, the Late Latin form of Greek Iakobos). Michael originates from Hebrew (Mikha'el - 'who is like God?').
Frequently asked questions
Is James or Michael more popular?
James is more popular worldwide, with approximately 8,807,695 estimated living bearers compared to 5,500,000 for Michael. That is roughly 1.6x more bearers of James.
What is the difference in origin between James and Michael?
James originates from Hebrew, English. Michael originates from Hebrew.
Are James and Michael used for the same gender?
Both James and Michael are predominantly used as male names.
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