James
A boys’ name of Hebrew origin, meaning supplanter; from Jacob.
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 |
James by the numbers
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.
For the size of the two countries, it is given noticeably more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 94,756 babies in 1947, so it is a 1940s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1945, about 1 in 18 American boys born that year was called James.
Other names that come from Jacob
Like James, each of these traces back to Jacob: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Jacobysupplanter; a form of Jacob297 in the US (2017)
- Yaakovheel holder, supplanter; Hebrew form of Jacob181 in the US (2017)
- Jacquelynsupplanter; a feminine form of Jacob164 in the US (2017)
- Jaclynsupplanter; a feminine form of Jacob149 in the US (2017)
- Jakobehe who supplants; variant of Jacob147 in the US (2017)
- Jaycobsupplanter; a modern spelling of Jacob140 in the US (2017)
- Yaqubsupplanter; arabic form of Jacob121 in England and Wales (2025)
- Jacobisupplanter; a form of Jacob120 in the US (2017)
Names that come from James
Forms of James in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Jamisonson of James, supplanter749 in the US (2017)
- Jaimesupplanter; Spanish form of James665 in the US (2017)
- Jimmygod is gracious; a diminutive of James93 in England and Wales (2025)
- Seamusgod has heard; irish form of James210 in the US (2017)
- Tiagogod is gracious; portuguese form of James67 in England and Wales (2025)
- Jayciesupplanter; a form of James via Jamie or Jayme105 in the US (2017)
- Jimmiegod is gracious; a form of James78 in the US (2017)
- Jaymesupplanter; a form of James70 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of James. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Other names that mean a supplanter
Like James, each of these has a supplanter in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Jacobsupplanter, holder of the heel13,122 in the US (2017)
- Jamesonson of James; supplanter3,979 in the US (2017)
- Diegosupplanter; a form of James3,095 in the US (2017)
- Jaycehe supplants; a modern respelling of James2,951 in the US (2017)
- Jakesupplanter; a form of Jacob1,491 in the US (2017)
- Jamiehe supplants; form of james195 in England and Wales (2025)
Names about as common as James
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