Namewise

Glenn vs James

Glenn 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 2013, Glenn was ranked #343 and James #2 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1983, Glenn was ranked #100 and James #4 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Glenn was ranked #829 and James #4 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1986, Glenn was ranked #99 and James #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Glenn was ranked #4275 and James #42 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2012, Glenn was ranked #545 and James #311 among boys in Norway.

Glenn and James over time

Glenn and James appear together in 6 published lists, across 221 years of shared records. James held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Glenn in 1.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Glenn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and James 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

    Glenn and James changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1948 and 2012, ending at #545 and #311.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Glenn and James averaged 27.2 places apart, ending at #99 and #6.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, James rose about as far as Glenn fell — from #50 and #21 in 1952 to #99 and #6 in 1986.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Glenn and James were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #99 and #6.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Glenn #278 in 1996, James #2 in 1997.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1948–2012

    Glenn held the stronger position in 53 of those years, James in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #57 in 1974, James #218 in 1978.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2012: Glenn #545, James #311.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2025

    Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, James in 55.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #92 in 1992, James #1 in 1994.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Glenn #829, James #4.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1952–1986

    Glenn held the stronger position in 3 of those years, James in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #16 in 1962, James #6 in 1986.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1986: Glenn #99, James #6.

  • New Zealand · Boys29 shared years, 1954–1983

    Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, James in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #28 in 1971, James #4 in 1980.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1983: Glenn #100, James #4.

  • England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2025

    Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, James in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #278 in 1996, James #2 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Glenn #4275, James #42.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2013

    Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, James in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Glenn #104 in 1997, James #2 in 2007.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Glenn #343, James #2.

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 Glenn

Pairs where Glenn shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving James

Pairs where James shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.

All peaked in the same years→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Glenn, James
FieldGlennJames
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedSupplanter, held by the heel (traditional interpretation via Jacob).
OriginNot yet recordedHebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus
Pronunciation/ˈdʒeɪmz/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedJim, Jamie, Iacomus
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #4 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • James has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus); Glenn does not have one recorded yet.
  • Glenn has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for James.
  • A meaning is recorded for James; Glenn doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Glenn 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

Glenn

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1948

    First recorded at #329 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–1986

    Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4275 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

James

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2015 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #42 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys