James vs Theodore
James and Theodore 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 Theodore #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2025, James was ranked #15 and Theodore #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, James was ranked #4 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2023, James was ranked #15 and Theodore #6 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, James was ranked #42 and Theodore #9 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, James was ranked #14 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
James and Theodore 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 Theodore over time
James and Theodore appear together in 5 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. James held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Theodore in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 Theodore 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 2019, Theodore moved ahead of James in England and Wales · Boys — #21 and #29 the year before became #22 and #18.
- Longest-running competitions
James and Theodore were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #42 and #9.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
James held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Theodore in 7.
Highest recorded here: James #2 in 1997, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order changed in 2019: Theodore moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #21 and #29; by 2019 that had become #22 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2025: James #42, Theodore #9.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1964–2025
James held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Theodore in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #1 in 2016, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: James #4, Theodore #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2001–2024
James held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Theodore in 0.
Highest recorded here: James #1 in 2015, Theodore #32 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: James #1, Theodore #32.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys11 shared years, 2015–2025
James held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Theodore in 5.
Highest recorded here: James #5 in 2015, Theodore #3 in 2024.
The order changed in 2021: Theodore moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #11 and #15; by 2021 that had become #18 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2025: James #15, Theodore #3.
New Zealand · Boys11 shared years, 2013–2023
James held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Theodore in 3.
Highest recorded here: James #3 in 2013, Theodore #6 in 2022.
The order changed in 2021: Theodore moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #13 and #15; by 2021 that had become #14 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2023: James #15, Theodore #6.
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 Theodore
Pairs where Theodore shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Theodore vs Elijah
Theodore and Elijah both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Theodore · Elijah · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Theodore vs Hugo
Theodore and Hugo both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Theodore · Hugo · 31 shared years, 1992–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Leo vs Theodore
Leo and Theodore both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Leo · Theodore · 33 shared years, 1964–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Theodore vs Archie
Theodore and Archie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Theodore · Archie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
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 | Theodore |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Supplanter, held by the heel (traditional interpretation via Jacob). | Gift of God. |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒeɪmz/ | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Jim, Jamie, Iacomus | Teddy |
| 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, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #4 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- James is recorded with a Hebrew, via Late Latin Iacomus origin, while Theodore is recorded with a Greek origin.
- James has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- James's recorded meaning differs from Theodore's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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
Theodore
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2015–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024 (recorded 2015–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #9 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys