| Michael | James | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Who is like God? | Supplanter |
| Origin | Hebrew | Hebrew |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | MY-kul | JAYMZ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1957 (92,781) | 1947 (94,767) |
| In 2025 | 8,094 | 11,945 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Michael | James |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 52,631 | 72,523 |
| 2010s | 145,220 | 139,689 |
| 2000s | 250,715 | 163,179 |
| 1990s | 462,466 | 244,980 |
| 1980s | 663,807 | 356,491 |
| 1970s | 707,327 | 444,713 |
| 1960s | 833,092 | 684,722 |
| 1950s | 837,471 | 843,768 |
| 1940s | 336,568 | 795,775 |
| 1930s | 56,001 | 547,479 |
| 1920s | 37,893 | 515,301 |
| 1910s | 30,858 | 275,070 |
| 1900s | 5,220 | 62,170 |
| 1890s | 3,926 | 50,723 |
| 1880s | 3,558 | 54,055 |
Michael comes from the Hebrew rhetorical question mi-ka-el, “Who is like God?” Michael is named in scripture as an archangel, and the name has been a perennial favourite for boys across the Christian world.
James descends, through Latin Iacomus, from the Hebrew Yaʿaqov (Jacob), traditionally read as “supplanter” or “one who follows.” It has been borne by kings and two apostles.
James is more popular than Michael today: about 11,945 US babies were given the name James in 2025, compared with 8,094 named Michael.
Michael means Who is like God? (Hebrew origin), while James means Supplanter (Hebrew origin).
In US records, Michael first appears in 1880 and James in 1880, so Michael has the longer recorded history.