US Popularity:9
Origin:Hebrew
Meaning:Supplanter; Holder of the heel
Popular from Biblical times to the modern day, James is a baby name that may never go out of style—especially considering its current fluidity. Traditionally a masculine name, James has become increasingly popular as a gender-neutral choice—like when Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds named their daughter James. Coming from the Hebrew name Jacob, it means “supplanter,” or "holder of the heel." Throughout history, James has been given to kings, presidents, entertainers, and regular folks alike, giving your little one plenty of inspiration. Thanks to its adaptability, will probably continue to grace the tops of baby name lists far into the future.
On this page:
Famous People Named JamesPopularity Trend ChartSimilar NamesParents Who Like the Name James Also LikeRelated Baby Names ListsSibling Name Ideas

Famous People Named James

Wondering who else shares this name? Check out these well known people who made this baby name famous.
  • James
    Queen Mary and Henry
  • James Baldwin
    Novelist, Playwright
  • James Bevel
    Civil Rights Activist
  • James Brown
    Singer
  • James Buchanan
    United States President
  • James Cameron
    Director
  • James Dean
    Actor
  • James Franklin Hyde
    Inventor
  • James Garfield
    United States President
  • James Herriot
    Novelist
  • James J. Jeffries
    Boxer
  • James Joyce
    Novelist, Poet
  • James Knox Polk
    United States President
  • James Madison
    United States President
  • James Marsden
    Actor
  • James McAcoy
    Actor
  • James Monroe
    United States President
  • James Naismith
    Inventor
  • James Patterson
    Author
  • James Watt
    Inventor
  • James Weldon Johnson
    Author, Civil Rights Activist
  • James Worthy
    Basketball Player
  • LeBron James
    Basketball Player
  • Rick James
    Musician

James Name Popularity Data

The Bump Ranking

Overall:James is currently #23 on The Bump
Boy:James is currently #20 on The Bump Boy Names
Girl:James is currently #13 on The Bump Girl Names

U.S. Births

Overall:James is currently #9 in U.S. births
Boy:James is currently #9 in U.S. births
Girl:James is currently #4115 in U.S. births

Yearly Ranking Change:

Year:
2022
Gender:
Girl
#4115
in 2022
+ 609
from 2021
In comparison to the previous year's data

Similar Names

Explore similar sounding names to find other baby names for your My Favorites list.

Parents Who Like the Name James Also Like:

Related Baby Names Lists

Check out these related baby names lists to discover more baby boy and baby girl names and meanings.

Sibling Name Ideas

Are you looking for a sibling name for James? Here are some great options:
Sources
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial process.
Not sure you have the perfect name? Search to add more baby names to your My Favorites list.