boy's name
James
JAYMZ
- Origin Hebrew
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 1
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 100 (US)
- Births on record 5,583,185
the United States
#6
2025 births
James is a boy's name of Hebrew origin, an English form of Jacob by way of Late Latin Iacomus. Its underlying meaning is usually given as "supplanter" or "holder of the heel," from the Genesis account of Jacob grasping his twin brother Esau's heel at birth.
- James is a name of Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 1947, when 95,024 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 276 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
James over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 54,322 |
| 1890s | 51,005 |
| 1900s | 62,527 |
| 1910s | 276,392 |
| 1920s | 518,511 |
| 1930s | 550,385 |
| 1940s | 798,341 |
| 1950s | 846,311 |
| 1960s | 687,738 |
| 1970s | 447,543 |
| 1980s | 359,097 |
| 1990s | 245,648 |
| 2000s | 163,609 |
| 2010s | 140,143 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 72,948 |
What James means
James inherits its meaning from Jacob, the Hebrew Ya'aqov, traditionally explained as "he grasps the heel" and by extension "supplanter." Some scholars prefer a reading closer to "may God protect," treating the heel-grasping explanation as a later interpretation of the story.
Where James comes from
James and Jacob are the same name arriving in English by two routes. The Hebrew Ya'aqov passed into Greek as Iakobos and into Latin as Iacobus, which in Late Latin softened to Iacomus — the form that produced the French Jacques, the Spanish Jaime, and the English James. The direct Latin Iacobus gave English Jacob separately, which is why both exist side by side. Two apostles bear the name in the New Testament, and its standing in Britain owes much to the Scottish and later English kings named James, including James VI and I, who commissioned the 1611 King James Bible.
James in use
James and Jacob are linguistically the same name, separated only by a shift in Late Latin.
How popular is James?
In 2025, James was given to 12,004 babies in the United States, ranking #6 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Where James is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside James
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like James also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with James over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
4 nicknames for James
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
James in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for James
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with James — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about James
What does the name James mean?
James is usually translated as "supplanter" or "holder of the heel," inherited from the Hebrew Ya'aqov.
Are James and Jacob the same name?
Yes. Both descend from the Hebrew Ya'aqov, arriving in English by different Latin routes.
What are nicknames for James?
Jim, Jamie, and Jimmy are the most common short forms.
How popular is the name James?
In 2025, James was given to 12,004 babies in the United States, ranking #6 that year. It is one of the most popular names in the United States.
Is James a girl's or a boy's name?
James is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in James?
James has 1 syllable.
When was James most popular?
James peaked in 1947, when 95,024 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
Is James a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. James currently ranks #1 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.