gender neutral
James
supplanter, one who follows
About James
A cornerstone of English naming tradition, James has maintained its prestigious position for centuries through its remarkable adaptability and universal appeal. The name's classical elegance stems from its biblical roots and royal associations, yet it never feels stuffy or inaccessible. Parents consistently return to James for its proven track record—it's a name that has served everyone from kings to artists, scientists to athletes, demonstrating its versatility across all walks of life. The abundance of nickname options provides flexibility as a child grows: Jamie for youth, Jay for casual settings, James for professional contexts. Its widespread recognition across cultures eliminates pronunciation difficulties while traveling or conducting international business. James pairs exceptionally well with both traditional and modern middle names, offering countless combination possibilities. The name's enduring popularity speaks to its fundamental soundness as a choice. It carries weight without heaviness, sophistication without pretension. For families seeking a name that's simultaneously safe and distinguished, James represents an investment in timeless quality that will serve your son throughout every stage of his life.
Popularity of the Name James
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #3 | ||||
| 1881 | #3 | ||||
| 1882 | #3 | ||||
| 1883 | #3 | ||||
| 1884 | #3 | ||||
| 1885 | #3 | ||||
| 1886 | #3 | ||||
| 1887 | #3 | ||||
| 1888 | #3 | ||||
| 1889 | #3 | ||||
| 1890 | #3 | ||||
| 1891 | #3 | ||||
| 1892 | #3 | ||||
| 1893 | #3 | ||||
| 1894 | #3 | ||||
| 1895 | #3 | ||||
| 1896 | #3 | ||||
| 1897 | #3 | ||||
| 1898 | #3 | ||||
| 1899 | #3 | ||||
| 1900 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1901 | #3 | #4 | |||
| 1902 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1903 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1904 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1905 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1906 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1907 | #3 | #4 | |||
| 1908 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1909 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1910 | #2 | #3 | |||
| 1911 | #3 | #4 | |||
| 1912 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1913 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1914 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1915 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1916 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1917 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1918 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1919 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1920 | #4 | #3 | |||
| 1921 | #4 | #3 | |||
| 1922 | #4 | #3 | |||
| 1923 | #4 | #3 | |||
| 1924 | #4 | #3 | |||
| 1925 | #4 | #3 | |||
| 1926 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1927 | #3 | #4 | |||
| 1928 | #3 | #3 | |||
| 1929 | #2 | #3 | |||
| 1930 | #2 | #3 | |||
| 1931 | #2 | #4 | |||
| 1932 | #2 | #4 | |||
| 1933 | #2 | #5 | |||
| 1934 | #2 | #4 | |||
| 1935 | #2 | #6 | |||
| 1936 | #2 | #7 | |||
| 1937 | #2 | #7 | |||
| 1938 | #2 | #7 | |||
| 1939 | #2 | #7 | |||
| 1940 | #1 | #7 | |||
| 1941 | #1 | #7 | |||
| 1942 | #1 | #7 | |||
| 1943 | #1 | #7 | |||
| 1944 | #1 | #9 | |||
| 1945 | #1 | #11 | |||
| 1946 | #1 | #9 | |||
| 1947 | #1 | #10 | |||
| 1948 | #1 | #9 | |||
| 1949 | #1 | #12 | |||
| 1950 | #1 | #12 | |||
| 1951 | #1 | #17 | |||
| 1952 | #1 | #17 | |||
| 1953 | #2 | #18 | |||
| 1954 | #3 | #21 | |||
| 1955 | #3 | #20 | |||
| 1956 | #2 | #18 | |||
| 1957 | #2 | #20 | |||
| 1958 | #3 | #23 | |||
| 1959 | #3 | #20 | |||
| 1960 | #3 | #20 | |||
| 1961 | #4 | #22 | |||
| 1962 | #4 | #22 | |||
| 1963 | #4 | #19 | |||
| 1964 | #4 | #19 | #5 | ||
| 1965 | #4 | #14 | #4 | ||
| 1966 | #3 | #18 | #4 | ||
| 1967 | #3 | #19 | #4 | ||
| 1968 | #4 | #15 | #4 | ||
| 1969 | #3 | #17 | #4 | ||
| 1970 | #2 | #15 | #5 | ||
| 1971 | #2 | #18 | #5 | ||
| 1972 | #3 | #19 | #5 | ||
| 1973 | #4 | #15 | #6 | ||
| 1974 | #5 | #13 | #6 | ||
| 1975 | #4 | #10 | #6 | ||
| 1976 | #5 | #9 | #6 | ||
| 1977 | #5 | #8 | #6 | ||
| 1978 | #5 | #7 | #6 | ||
| 1979 | #5 | #6 | #6 | ||
| 1980 | #5 | #4 | #6 | ||
| 1981 | #7 | #5 | #6 | ||
| 1982 | #6 | #3 | #6 | ||
| 1983 | #6 | #4 | #6 | ||
| 1984 | #7 | #6 | #6 | ||
| 1985 | #7 | #3 | #5 | ||
| 1986 | #7 | #4 | #4 | ||
| 1987 | #8 | #4 | #4 | ||
| 1988 | #9 | #4 | #6 | ||
| 1989 | #9 | #5 | #4 | ||
| 1990 | #8 | #4 | #5 | ||
| 1991 | #7 | #5 | #3 | #16 | |
| 1992 | #9 | #3 | #3 | #20 | |
| 1993 | #14 | #2 | #3 | #20 | |
| 1994 | #14 | #4 | #1 | #23 | |
| 1995 | #17 | #3 | #2 | #24 | |
| 1996 | #17 | #3 | #7 | #26 | |
| 1997 | #17 | #2 | #4 | #3 | #27 |
| 1998 | #18 | #2 | #5 | #4 | #30 |
| 1999 | #19 | #3 | #8 | #4 | #32 |
| 2000 | #18 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #33 |
| 2001 | #19 | #3 | #6 | #5 | #33 |
| 2002 | #18 | #4 | #5 | #5 | #33 |
| 2003 | #18 | #4 | #8 | #5 | #29 |
| 2004 | #18 | #4 | #9 | #5 | #30 |
| 2005 | #17 | #4 | #5 | #5 | #30 |
| 2006 | #16 | #4 | #4 | #5 | #29 |
| 2007 | #15 | #6 | #3 | #5 | #28 |
| 2008 | #17 | #7 | #2 | #5 | #23 |
| 2009 | #18 | #9 | #3 | #5 | #21 |
| 2010 | #19 | #9 | #2 | #4 | #19 |
| 2011 | #17 | #7 | #8 | #2 | #15 |
| 2012 | #14 | #9 | #10 | #2 | #17 |
| 2013 | #13 | #7 | #3 | #2 | #15 |
| 2014 | #9 | #6 | #4 | #2 | #14 |
| 2015 | #7 | #8 | #4 | #2 | #13 |
| 2016 | #5 | #8 | #5 | #1 | #10 |
| 2017 | #4 | #14 | #6 | #2 | #10 |
| 2018 | #4 | #18 | #9 | #2 | #10 |
| 2019 | #6 | #17 | #7 | #2 | #10 |
| 2020 | #6 | #20 | #13 | #2 | #10 |
| 2021 | #5 | #23 | #14 | #3 | #13 |
| 2022 | #4 | #26 | #16 | #4 | #11 |
| 2023 | #4 | #27 | #15 | #4 | #11 |
| 2024 | #5 | #33 | #12 | #5 | #8 |
| 2025 | #6 | #33 | #13 | #4 | #12 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name James
Names Similar to James
Nicknames for James
- Jim
- Jimmy
- Jamie
- Jay
Famous People Named James
| James Dean | Iconic American actor |
| James Bond | Fictional spy character |
| James Franco | American actor and filmmaker |
| James Cameron | Acclaimed film director |
| James Madison | Fourth President of the United States |
| James Brown | Influential musician |
| James Patterson | Bestselling author |
| James Harden | Professional basketball player |
| James Hetfield | Lead vocalist of Metallica |
| James McAvoy | Scottish actor |
| James Taylor | Grammy-winning singer-songwriter |
| James Gandolfini | Actor known for his role as Tony Soprano |
| James Watt | Scottish inventor and engineer |
| James Cook | British explorer and navigator |
| James Baldwin | Influential writer and civil rights activist |
| James Blunt | British singer-songwriter |
| James Corden | British comedian and television host |
| James May | British television presenter |
| James Rhodes | Classical pianist |
| James Earl Jones | American actor with a distinctive voice |
Characters Named James
| James Potter | Character from the Harry Potter series |
| James Bond | The iconic secret agent from Ian Fleming's novels |
| James T. Kirk | Captain of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek |
| James "Sawyer" Ford | Character from the TV show Lost |
| James "Logan" Howlett | Wolverine - X-Men character |
| James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes | Winter Soldier - Marvel character |
| James "Jim" Halpert | Character from the TV show The Office |
| James Moriarty | Sherlock Holmes' arch-nemesis |
| James "Rhodey" Rhodes | War Machine - Marvel character |
| James P. Sullivan | Sulley - Character from Monsters, Inc |
| James "Jim" Hawkins | Protagonist of Treasure Island |
| James "Jim" Gordon | Commissioner of Gotham City in Batman comics |
| James "Jim" Kirkland | Character from the Jurassic Park series |
| James Hook | Captain Hook from Peter Pan |
| James "Jim" Moriarty | Character from the TV show Sherlock |
| James "Jim" Lovell | Astronaut and commander of Apollo 13 |
| James "Jimmy" McGill | Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad character |
| James "Jim" Raynor | Character from the video game series StarCraft |
| James "Jim" West | Protagonist of the film Wild Wild West |