Name comparison
Michael vs William
Michael is the more common of the two, with roughly 2.6x more bearers worldwide.
Side-by-side
| Metric | Michael | William |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated bearers worldwide | 5,500,000 | 2,095,404 |
| Global rank | #1 | #6 |
| Rarity (worldwide) | 1 in 1,455 | 1 in 3,818 |
| Origin | Hebrew | n/a |
| Predominant gender | Male (99.5%) | Male (99.6%) |
| Countries with data | 1 | 1 |
| U.S. bearers | 3,532,665 | 2,095,404 |
How they differ
Michael has approximately 5.5M living bearers compared to 2.1M for William - a ratio of about 2.6x.
Michael originates from Hebrew (Mikha'el - 'who is like God?'). William originates from unknown origins.
Frequently asked questions
Is Michael or William more popular?
Michael is more popular worldwide, with approximately 5,500,000 estimated living bearers compared to 2,095,404 for William. That is roughly 2.6x more bearers of Michael.
What is the difference in origin between Michael and William?
Michael originates from Hebrew. William originates from unknown sources.
Are Michael and William used for the same gender?
Both Michael and William are predominantly used as male names.
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