Hamish vs Jamie
Hamish and Jamie 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 2019, Hamish was ranked #402 and Jamie #19 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2009, Hamish was ranked #72 and Jamie #53 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Hamish was ranked #69 and Jamie #87 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2007, Hamish was ranked #79 and Jamie #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Hamish was ranked #395 and Jamie #98 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Hamish was ranked #484 and Jamie #245 among boys in England and Wales.
Hamish and Jamie 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.
Hamish and Jamie over time
Hamish and Jamie appear together in 3 published lists, across 76 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jamie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Hamish 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 2006, Jamie moved ahead of Hamish in New Zealand · Boys — #56 and #62 the year before became #66 and #59.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hamish and Jamie changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1972 and 2009, ending at #72 and #53.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 38 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Hamish and Jamie averaged 13.0 places apart, ending at #72 and #53.
- Longest-running competitions
Hamish and Jamie were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #484 and #245.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Hamish #222 in 1998, Jamie #28 in 1996.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1972–2009
Hamish held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Jamie in 19.
Highest recorded here: Hamish #27 in 1999, Jamie #23 in 1990.
The order changed in 2006: Jamie moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #56 and #62; by 2006 that had become #66 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Hamish #72, Jamie #53.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Hamish held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Jamie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Hamish #222 in 1998, Jamie #28 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hamish #484, Jamie #245.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1997–2007
Hamish held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Jamie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Hamish #68 in 2004, Jamie #89 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Hamish #79, Jamie #100.
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 Jamie
Pairs where Jamie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Jamie vs Marcus
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Jamie rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #307 and #99 in 1972 to #47 and #232 in 2025.
Jamie · Marcus · 54 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Jamie vs Ronan
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Jamie rose about as far as Ronan fell — from #307 and #46 in 1972 to #47 and #86 in 2025.
Jamie · Ronan · 54 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Jamie vs Ross
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Jamie rose about as far as Ross fell — from #307 and #168 in 1972 to #47 and #329 in 2025.
Jamie · Ross · 54 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Thomas vs Jamie
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Jamie rose about as far as Thomas fell — from #7 and #307 in 1972 to #16 and #47 in 2025.
Thomas · Jamie · 54 shared years, 1972–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Hamish | Jamie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Shares the meaning of James: commonly interpreted as 'supplanter' (Hebrew, via James/Jacob). | Originally a Lowland Scots diminutive of James; used as a feminine name too since the late 19th century. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic | Scottish, diminutive of James |
| Pronunciation | /ˈheɪmɪʃ/ | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.mi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Seumas, James | 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 #484 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #47 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Hamish is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic origin, while Jamie is recorded with a Scottish, diminutive of James origin.
- Hamish and Jamie both have 2 syllables.
- Hamish's recorded meaning differs from Jamie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Hamish a "high" Data Confidence level and Jamie a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Hamish
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #95 among boys in New Zealand in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2009
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1964–2009).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #484 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Jamie
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #91 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2005 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls