James
A boys’ name of Hebrew origin, meaning supplanter; from Jacob.
Babies a year
14,309
the US, 2017
Rarity
Common
among names in use
US popularity
#6
down from #5
UK popularity
#42
1,211 babies · down from #40
How James has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #7 |
| 2016 | #5 |
| 2017 | #4 |
| 2018 | #4 |
| 2019 | #6 |
| 2020 | #6 |
| 2021 | #5 |
| 2022 | #4 |
| 2023 | #4 |
| 2024 | #5 |
| 2025 | #6 |
In 2025, 1,211 babies in England and Wales were named James. In the US, 14,309 were, though that figure is from 2017 — the most recent full year we hold. Its US peak was 94,756 in 1947.
Looking further back: between 1880 and 2008, James was most common in 1945, when it went to 5.43% of American babies of that sex. Squarely vintage-revival territory.
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