Fredrick vs James
Fredrick and Jamescompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Fredrick was ranked #418 and James #1 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2016, Fredrick was ranked #713 and James #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Fredrick was ranked #721 and James #40 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2012, Fredrick was ranked #543 and James #311 among boys in Norway.
Fredrick and James over time
Fredrick and James appear together in 2 published lists, across 57 years of shared records. James held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Fredrick in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
James reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Fredrick 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fredrick and James changed places 8 times in Norway · Boys between 1973 and 2012, ending at #543 and #311.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fredrick held the stronger position in 0 of those years, James in 29.
Highest recorded here: Fredrick #642 in 2019, James #2 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fredrick #721, James #40.
Norway · Boys28 shared years, 1973–2012
Fredrick held the stronger position in 10 of those years, James in 18.
Highest recorded here: Fredrick #286 in 1992, James #220 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Fredrick #543, James #311.
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 James
Pairs where James shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- James vs Jordan
In 1997 they stood at #3 and #6 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #1 and #404.
James · Jordan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- James vs Gerard
In 1964 they stood at #5 and #10 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4 and #348.
James · Gerard · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Daniel
James and Daniel changed places 12 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 2023, ending at #15 and #53.
James · Daniel · 69 shared years, 1954–2023 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Fredrick | James |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Supplanter, held by the heel (traditional interpretation via Jacob). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈdʒeɪmz/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Jim, Jamie, Iacomus |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #721 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #4 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- James has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus); Fredrick does not have one recorded yet.
- Fredrick and James both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for James; Fredrick doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Fredrick a "medium" Data Confidence level and James a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Fredrick
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #589 among boys in Norway in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1973–2012
Highest recorded position: #286 among boys in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1973–2012).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #721 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
James
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2015 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys