James vs Max
James and Max 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, James was ranked #1 and Max #30 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, James was ranked #4 and Max #41 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, James was ranked #14 and Max #29 among boys in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, James was ranked #15 and Max #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, James was ranked #15 and Max #29 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, James was ranked #42 and Max #48 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, James was ranked #355 and Max #72 among boys in Norway.
James and Max 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.
James and Max over time
James and Max appear together in 6 published lists, across 225 years of shared records. James held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Max in 1.
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.
James reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Max 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 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, James and Max averaged 20.5 places apart, ending at #42 and #48.
- Longest-running competitions
James and Max were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #42 and #48.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — James #1 in 2015, Max #22 in 2015.
List by list
Norway · Boys62 shared years, 1946–2025
James held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Max in 37.
Highest recorded here: James #218 in 1978, Max #60 in 2012.
The order changed in 1990: Max moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #255 and #265; by 1990 that had become #353 and #309.
Most recent shared year, 2025: James #355, Max #72.
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1973–2025
James held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Max in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #1 in 1994, Max #27 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: James #4, Max #41.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys33 shared years, 1992–2025
James held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Max in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #3 in 1996, Max #13 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: James #15, Max #30.
New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 1992–2023
James held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Max in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #2 in 1993, Max #10 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: James #15, Max #29.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
James held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Max in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #2 in 1997, Max #18 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: James #42, Max #48.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
James held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Max in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #1 in 2015, Max #22 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: James #1, Max #30.
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
Other comparisons involving Max
Pairs where Max shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Scott vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #48 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #845 and #48.
Scott · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #48.
Stephen · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Richard vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #62 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #431 and #48.
Richard · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Morten vs Max
Over 62 shared years in Norway · Boys, Max rose about as far as Morten fell — from #92 and #359 in 1946 to #214 and #72 in 2025.
Morten · Max · 62 shared years, 1946–2025 · Mirrored each other
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 Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern 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.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- 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 | James | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Supplanter, held by the heel (traditional interpretation via Jacob). | A short form of Maximilian or Maxim, ultimately from Latin 'maximus' (greatest). |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus | Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒeɪmz/ | /ˈmæks/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Jim, Jamie, Iacomus | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #4 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #30 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- James is recorded with a Hebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus origin, while Max is recorded with a Latin, via Maximilian/Maxim origin.
- James has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Max.
- James's recorded meaning differs from Max's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives James a "high" Data Confidence level and Max a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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 #42 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Max
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #359 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1992–2023
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New Zealand, in 2016 (recorded 1992–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #48 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys