James
James is a boys' name of Hebrew origin meaning “supplanter.” It ranked #4 in the United States in 2025. James derives from the Hebrew Ya'akov (Jacob) via Late Latin Jacomus.
how do you pronounce James?
JAYMZ
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does James mean?
The name James means “supplanter.” It comes from the Hebrew language tradition.
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.
where does the name James come from?
From the Late Latin Iacomus, a spoken variant of Iacobus, which renders the Hebrew Ya'aqov — the name we also receive as Jacob. James and Jacob are therefore the same name arriving by two routes, one through Latin speech and one through Latin scripture.
the history of James
Two of the twelve apostles bore the name, and the shrine of St James at Santiago de Compostela became one of medieval Europe's great pilgrimage destinations. Six Scottish kings were called James, and the sixth, on inheriting England, commissioned the 1611 translation of the Bible that still carries his name. It has sat in the American top twenty for over a century.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #4 |
| 2023 | #4 |
| 2022 | #5 |
| 2021 | #5 |
| 2020 | #6 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of James?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named James?
- James Baldwin (American author)
- James Bond (fictional spy)
- LeBron James (NBA player)
what names are similar to James?
what names go well with James?
Sibling names that share James's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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