According to Kunio YANAGIDA and Taro NAKAYAMA, miko can be classified into two groups: kannagi, a group of miko who served the Imperial Court; and kuchiyose, a group of miko who served the common people.
柳田国男・中山太郎の分類によると、概ね朝廷の神和（かんなぎ）系巫女と民間の口寄（くちよせ）系巫女に分けられる。