James vs Raymond
James and Raymondcompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1993, James was ranked #2 and Raymond #100 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, James was ranked #3 and Raymond #395 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1991, James was ranked #4 and Raymond #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, James was ranked #4 and Raymond #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, James was ranked #40 and Raymond #545 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2008, James was ranked #403 and Raymond #487 among boys in Norway.
James and Raymond over time
James and Raymond appear together in 6 published lists, across 243 years of shared records. James held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Raymond in 1.
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.
Raymond reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1953, James moved ahead of Raymond in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #21 and #17 the year before became #18 and #22.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
James and Raymond changed places 5 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2008, ending at #403 and #487.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 37 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, James and Raymond averaged 44.3 places apart, ending at #4 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
James and Raymond were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 37 years, from 1952 to 1991, ending at #4 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — James #2 in 1997, Raymond #312 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys61 shared years, 1945–2008
James held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Raymond in 53.
Highest recorded here: James #218 in 1978, Raymond #60 in 1978.
The order changed in 2001: James moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #395 and #336; by 2001 that had become #379 and #519.
Most recent shared year, 2008: James #403, Raymond #487.
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
James held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Raymond in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #1 in 1994, Raymond #29 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: James #4, Raymond #509.
New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1993
James held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Raymond in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #2 in 1993, Raymond #28 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: James #2, Raymond #100.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys37 shared years, 1952–1991
James held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Raymond in 1.
Highest recorded here: James #4 in 1991, Raymond #17 in 1952.
The order changed in 1953: James moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #21 and #17; by 1953 that had become #18 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 1991: James #4, Raymond #96.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
James held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Raymond in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #2 in 1997, Raymond #312 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: James #40, Raymond #545.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2023
James held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Raymond in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #1 in 2019, Raymond #143 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: James #3, Raymond #395.
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 | James | Raymond |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Supplanter, held by the heel (traditional interpretation via Jacob). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒeɪmz/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Jim, Jamie, Iacomus | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- James has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus); Raymond does not have one recorded yet.
- James and Raymond both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for James; Raymond 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 James a "high" Data Confidence level and Raymond 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 #15 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Raymond
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #265 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1991
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys