Kasper vs Michael
Kasper and Michaelcompared 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 2025, Kasper was ranked #676 and Michael #22 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Kasper was ranked #23 and Michael #195 among boys in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Kasper was ranked #312 and Michael #49 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Kasper was ranked #535 and Michael #66 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Kasper was ranked #529 and Michael #85 among boys in England and Wales.
Kasper and Michael over time
Kasper and Michael appear together in 3 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Michael held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kasper 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.
Michael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Kasper 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 1999, Kasper moved ahead of Michael in Norway · Boys — #92 and #81 the year before became #77 and #102.
- Mirrored each other
Over 51 shared years in Norway · Boys, Kasper rose about as far as Michael fell — from #549 and #108 in 1973 to #23 and #195 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Kasper and Michael were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 51 years, from 1973 to 2025, ending at #23 and #195.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Kasper #500 in 2012, Michael #8 in 2013.
List by list
Norway · Boys51 shared years, 1973–2025
Kasper held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Michael in 24.
Highest recorded here: Kasper #17 in 2023, Michael #48 in 1990.
The order changed in 1999: Kasper moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #92 and #81; by 1999 that had become #77 and #102.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kasper #23, Michael #195.
England and Wales · Boys26 shared years, 1999–2024
Kasper held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 26.
Highest recorded here: Kasper #326 in 2021, Michael #26 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kasper #529, Michael #85.
Republic of Ireland · Boys11 shared years, 2009–2025
Kasper held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Michael in 11.
Highest recorded here: Kasper #500 in 2012, Michael #8 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kasper #676, Michael #22.
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 | Kasper | Michael |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as a rhetorical question, 'Who is like God?', implying no one compares to God. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmaɪkəl/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #23 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #22 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Michael has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Kasper does not have one recorded yet.
- Kasper and Michael both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Michael; Kasper doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Kasper
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #549 among boys in Norway in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1973–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1973–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Michael
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #259 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1974 (recorded 1952–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #62 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys