Craig vs Mitchell
Craig and Mitchellcompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1991, Craig was ranked #97 and Mitchell #11 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Craig was ranked #90 and Mitchell #41 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2008, Craig was ranked #378 and Mitchell #266 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #478 and Mitchell #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Craig was ranked #572 and Mitchell #749 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Mitchell #968 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Mitchell over time
Craig and Mitchell appear together in 4 published lists, across 67 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Craig reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Mitchell in 1. 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1983, Mitchell moved ahead of Craig in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #31 and #33 the year before became #35 and #28.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Craig #81 in 1996, Mitchell #75 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #79 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #2263 and #968.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Mitchell in 28.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Mitchell #75 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Mitchell #968.
Republic of Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1989–2018
Craig held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Mitchell in 0.
Highest recorded here: Craig #40 in 2001, Mitchell #242 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Craig #572, Mitchell #749.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1979–1991
Craig held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Mitchell in 9.
Highest recorded here: Craig #24 in 1979, Mitchell #10 in 1990.
The order changed in 1983: Mitchell moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #31 and #33; by 1983 that had become #35 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Craig #97, Mitchell #11.
Northern Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 1997–2008
Craig held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Mitchell in 1.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Mitchell #192 in 2001.
The order changed in 2008: Mitchell moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #167 and #257; by 2008 that had become #378 and #266.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Craig #378, Mitchell #266.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Craig | Mitchell |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Scottish surname derived from Gaelic 'creag', meaning 'crag, rocks, outcrop' — originally denoting someone who lived near a crag. | An English surname derived from the given name Michael, or in some cases from Middle English 'michel' ('big, large'). |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) | English (surname origin), from Michael or 'michel' |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹeɪɡ/ | /ˈmɪt͡ʃ.əl/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) | Scotland · Boys #535 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Craig is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) origin, while Mitchell is recorded with a English (surname origin), from Michael or 'michel' origin.
- Craig has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Mitchell.
- Craig's recorded meaning differs from Mitchell's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Craig
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Mitchell
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1979–2013
Highest recorded position: #9 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1992 (recorded 1979–2013).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #968 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys