Bradley vs Michael
Bradley and Michael compared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bradley was ranked #372 and Michael #22 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2003, Bradley was ranked #76 and Michael #26 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Bradley was ranked #98 and Michael #31 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #404 and Michael #66 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #246 and Michael #66 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Bradley was ranked #352 and Michael #85 among boys in England and Wales.
Bradley and Michael over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Bradley and Michael over time
Bradley and Michael appear together in 5 published lists, across 170 years of shared records. Michael held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Bradley in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Michael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Bradley in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 48 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Bradley and Michael averaged 30.8 places apart, ending at #76 and #26.
- Longest-running competitions
Bradley and Michael were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #352 and #85.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Bradley #28 in 1997, Michael #22 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #31 and #22 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #352 and #85.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys48 shared years, 1956–2003
Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 48.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #19 in 1976, Michael #1 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Bradley #76, Michael #26.
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1987–2025
Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 33.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #130 in 2015, Michael #3 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #372, Michael #22.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1973–2005
Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 32.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1998, Michael #1 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Bradley #98, Michael #31.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Bradley held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Michael in 29.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1997, Michael #22 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #352, Michael #85.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 27.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #68 in 1998, Michael #7 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #404, Michael #66.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Bradley
Pairs where Bradley shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Oliver vs Bradley
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #10 and #404.
Oliver · Bradley · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Bradley
In 1997 they stood at #94 and #104 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #13 and #404.
Jacob · Bradley · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ashley vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #40 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #352.
Ashley · Bradley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mohammed vs Bradley
In 1996 they stood at #36 and #31 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #20 and #352.
Mohammed · Bradley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Michael
Pairs where Michael shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Michael vs Jordan
In 1997 they stood at #7 and #6 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #66 and #404.
Michael · Jordan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Michael vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #3 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #22 and #348.
Michael · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Michael vs Aksel
Michael and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #195 and #25.
Michael · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Michael vs Anders
Michael and Anders were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #195 and #293.
Michael · Anders · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists
Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Thomas vs Edward
Over 70 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Edward fell — from #44 and #48 in 1952 to #13 and #75 in 2025.
Thomas · Edward · 70 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alexander vs Edward
Over 67 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Edward fell — from #80 and #48 in 1952 to #22 and #75 in 2025.
Alexander · Edward · 67 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Andrew
Over 63 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Thomas rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #44 and #51 in 1952 to #8 and #89 in 2016.
Thomas · Andrew · 63 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
- Andrew vs Alexander
Over 60 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Andrew fell — from #51 and #80 in 1952 to #89 and #9 in 2016.
Andrew · Alexander · 60 shared years, 1952–2016 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 2000s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2000 and 2009.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Bradley | Michael |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as a rhetorical question, 'Who is like God?', implying no one compares to God. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmaɪkəl/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #352 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #22 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Michael has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Bradley does not have one recorded yet.
- Bradley and Michael both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Michael; Bradley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Bradley
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1956–2003
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1956–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #352 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Michael
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #259 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1974 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys