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Name Directory

James vs Henry

A side-by-side comparison of James and Henry — meaning, origin, pronunciation, popularity, and cultural significance.

how do James and Henry compare?

supplanter

Meaning

ruler of the home

JAYMZ

Pronunciation

HEN-ree

boy
Gender
boy
#4
Popularity
#10

James derives from the Hebrew Ya'akov (Jacob) via Late Latin Jacomus. It has been borne by six US presidents, countless kings, and the iconic fictional spy James Bond. It has never left the US top 20 in recorded history.

Cultural Note

Henry derives from the Germanic 'Heinrich' meaning 'ruler of the home.' Eight English kings bore the name. Its combination of royal gravitas and warm, friendly sound has kept it firmly in the top 10 for years.

which is more popular: James or Henry?

James

YearRank
2024#4
2023#4
2022#5
2021#5
2020#6

Henry

YearRank
2024#10
2023#10
2022#9
2021#9
2020#9

Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset

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