Get specific elemtent from xml file

Let's say i have two xml files. Both contain a specific element (let's say "name") but one has the element on a different position than the other xml file.

ex:

first xml-file:

<root>
 <element1>text1</element1>
 <element2>
  <name value="firstname">John</name>
 <element2>
</root>

second xml-file:

<root>
 <element1>text1</element1>
 <name value="firstname">Michael</name>
 <element2>text2</element2>
</root>

what is the most runtime-efficient way to get this elements without knowing their position before?

(Sorry if there is already an answer on stackoverflow but I didn't find one)