The nameJames
James is a boy's name of Hebrew origin, the English form of Jacob. Borne by kings, apostles and countless famous men, it is one of the most enduring names in the English-speaking world.
- Boy's name
- Hebrew
- Feast day
Meaning
James comes from Iacomus, a Late Latin form of Iacobus, itself from the Hebrew Ya'aqov, Jacob. The Bible links the name to the word for "heel": Jacob was born holding the heel of his twin brother Esau.
Origin
Hebrew, through Latin and Old French. English kept two forms of the same name: Jacob for the patriarch of the Old Testament and James for the two apostles of the New Testament.
History
Seven kings of Scotland were called James. James VI of Scotland became James I of England in 1603 and commissioned the King James Bible of 1611. In the United States, James was the most popular boys' name from 1940 to 1952 and has never left the top 20. Jim, Jimmy and Jamie are its usual short forms.
Did you know?
- James Joyce's Ulysses was first published in Paris in 1922 by the bookshop Shakespeare and Company.
- James Dean starred in only three major films before he died in a car crash in 1955, aged 24.
- Captain James Cook charted the east coast of Australia in 1770.
Famous people named James
- Saint James the Great, apostle
- James Joyce, writer
- James Stewart, actor
- James Dean, actor
- James Baldwin, writer
Popularity of the name James
James in the United States
James was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 846,319 births over the decade, 16% of all recorded babies named James. Its rise began around 1911, and it peaked in 1947. Half of all babies named James in the United States were born before 1953, although it is popular again today. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 12,168 births a year.
James in the United Kingdom
James was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 66,865 births over the decade, 44% of all recorded babies named James. Half of all babies named James in the United Kingdom were born before 2006, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,815 births a year on average, against 3,249 in the five years before.
James in Ireland
James in France
James in Belgium
James in Switzerland
James in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for James
Names from the same generation as James, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named James? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare James with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of James side by side with the name of your choice.
James in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name James mean?
James comes from Iacomus, a Late Latin form of Iacobus, itself from the Hebrew Ya'aqov, Jacob. The Bible links the name to the word for "heel": Jacob was born holding the heel of his twin brother Esau.
What is the origin of the name James?
Hebrew, through Latin and Old French. English kept two forms of the same name: Jacob for the patriarch of the Old Testament and James for the two apostles of the New Testament.
Is James a girl's or a boy's name?
James is a boy's name.
How popular is the name James?
In 2024, James was the 5th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 11,793 births.
What are the variants of the name James?
Variants and related names of James include Diego, Jacques, Jakob, Jamie, Jamy, Jaymie, Jim and Jimmy.
What are good sibling names for James?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Elizabeth, Abigail, Madeline and Isabella for a sister, Benjamin, Samuel, Isaac and Isaiah for a brother.
Who are famous people named James?
Saint James the Great, apostle; James Joyce, writer; James Stewart, actor; James Dean, actor.