Name comparison
James vs William
James is the more common of the two, with roughly 4.2x more bearers worldwide.
Side-by-side
| Metric | James | William |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated bearers worldwide | 8,807,695 | 2,095,404 |
| Global rank | #2 | #6 |
| Rarity (worldwide) | 1 in 908 | 1 in 3,818 |
| Origin | Hebrew, English | n/a |
| Predominant gender | Male (99.5%) | Male (99.6%) |
| Countries with data | 11 | 1 |
| U.S. bearers | 2,808,572 | 2,095,404 |
How they differ
James has approximately 8.8M living bearers compared to 2.1M for William - a ratio of about 4.2x.
James originates from Hebrew (supplanter; from Ya'aqov (Jacob)); English (anglicized form of Iacomus, the Late Latin form of Greek Iakobos). William originates from unknown origins.
Frequently asked questions
Is James or William more popular?
James is more popular worldwide, with approximately 8,807,695 estimated living bearers compared to 2,095,404 for William. That is roughly 4.2x more bearers of James.
What is the difference in origin between James and William?
James originates from Hebrew, English. William originates from unknown sources.
Are James and William used for the same gender?
Both James and William are predominantly used as male names.
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