James Name Meaning

James is frequently used as a boy name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name James.

Fact checked by Karen Cilli

The name James has an interesting history. It's a Hebrew name with Greek roots that roughly translates to "grabs the heel." It's thought that in Hebrew tradition, the name James means a man in control of his own actions and will.

In the Bible, James was the son of Zebedee, whose name meant "gift from God." It was also the name of two of Jesus’s apostles.

The name James also derives from the Greek name Jacobus, or Jacob. It's been suggested that the name James means the same thing as the name Jacob because some Bible translations interchange the two names. Jacob means “supplanter” or substitute.

The name James also has Scottish roots and was the name of several kings of Scotland. Thanks to its royal connotation, the name James became more widely popularized when King James VI took over the English throne in the 17th century.

• Origin: James comes from the Hebrew name Jacob, and means “supplanter.”

• Gender: James is traditionally used as a boy name, but it has become more common as a girl’s name, too. For instance, the daughter of Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively is named James. There is also a fairly equal split between girls and boys named Jamie, a derivative of James.

• Pronunciation: jaymz
  

Editor's Note

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular Is The Name James?

Appropriately so for a name with Biblical and royal connections, James has reigned over almost every other boy name since 1900, according to the Social Security Administration's rankings.

From 1940 to 1952, it was the #1 baby boy name. Even when it wasn’t number one, it was occupying the second, third, and fourth rankings, sitting pretty at the top of the charts.

James is so popular, in fact, that it has been among the top 10 boys' names every single decade except for two, from 1993 to 2013. Even then, it was still hugely popular, never falling below number 19.

In 2014, James bounced back into the top 10 and has been holding steady there ever since—this may be because parents in search of a new trend started opting to name their daughters James around that time, boosting its popularity yet again.

In 2022, James was the 4th most popular baby name in the United States.

Name Variations

The following names are variations on James:

• Giacomo (Italian)

• Iago (Welsh)

• Jacob (Hebrew, English)

• Jacques (French)

• Jakob (German, Polish)

• Jaime (Spanish)

• Séamas (Irish)

Similar Names

Other Biblical boy names include:

• Abraham

• Benjamin

• Elijah

• Jonah

• Levi

• Noah

• Samuel

• Simon

• Thomas

• Zachariah

Here are other boy names that start with "J":

• Jackson

• Jason

• Jeremiah

• Jonas

• Jonathan

• Jordan

• Joseph

• Joshua

• Judah

• Justin

Common Nicknames for James

You’ll have a lot of nickname options when it comes to the name James. Some are obvious and some tend to run in families. Here are a few:

• Jack

• Jamie

• Jay

• Jim

• Jimmy

• John

Suggested Siblings Names

What sibling names does James pair well with? Here are some ideas:

• Abigail

• Andrew

• Caleb

• Emily

• Grace

• Jessica

• Liam

• Matthew

• Olivia

• Peter

• Sarah

Famous People Named James

Considering the long-standing popularity of the name James, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of historical and famous figures bearing some variation of this moniker.

In fact, we could have lists just for presidents and actors named James! Famous people with the name James include:

• James Brolin, American actor

• James Brown, American singer and songwriter

• James Buchanan, 15th president of the United States

• James Cameron, film and TV director known for Titanic and Avatar

• James Earl Jones, American actor

• James Madison, 4th president of the United States and founding father of the US Constitution

• James Taylor, American singer and songwriter

Famous Jims and Jimmys

• Jim Belushi, American actor

• Jim Carrey, Canadian actor known for The Mask and The Grinch

• Jim Cavieziel, American actor known for The Passion of the Christ

• Jimmy Fallon, comedian, former SNL cast member, and host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

• Jim Henson, puppeteer and creator of The Muppets

• Jim Morrison, lead singer for The Doors

Famous Jamies

• Jamie Dornan, Irish actor

• Jamie Foxx, American actor known for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 Academy Award-winning film Ray

• Jamie Lee Curtis (female), American actress

• Jamie Oliver, British chef and TV host

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:

• Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names

• 50 Hebrew Baby Names

• 53 Royal Baby Names
  

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Read the original article on Parents.