Tools / Baby names / J

James

Boy

Meaning of James: Hebrew: 'supplanter'

James is a boy's name most strongly associated with Hebrew naming. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, and it is a timeless pick that has stayed popular for over a century — 6th most popular boys' name in the United States in 2025 and 40th in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#6

12,004 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#40

1,252 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

5,274,520

First recorded 1880 · peak 1947

Trend

stable

Style: classic

Popularity over time

1981: 38,555 babies1982: 39,191 babies1983: 36,624 babies1984: 36,097 babies1985: 36,149 babies1986: 34,330 babies1987: 32,905 babies1988: 32,767 babies1989: 32,896 babies1990: 32,474 babies19901991: 30,609 babies1992: 28,583 babies1993: 26,334 babies1994: 24,845 babies1995: 22,796 babies1996: 21,227 babies1997: 20,450 babies1998: 19,735 babies1999: 18,595 babies2000: 18,031 babies20002001: 17,116 babies2002: 16,999 babies2003: 16,930 babies2004: 16,564 babies2005: 16,166 babies2006: 16,301 babies2007: 16,006 babies2008: 15,222 babies2009: 14,274 babies2010: 13,931 babies20102011: 13,305 babies2012: 13,486 babies2013: 13,624 babies2014: 14,506 babies2015: 14,904 babies2016: 14,987 babies2017: 14,439 babies2018: 13,695 babies2019: 13,266 babies2020: 12,456 babies20202021: 12,542 babies2022: 12,204 babies2023: 11,818 babies2024: 11,924 babies2025: 12,004 babies
US babies named James per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 39,191.

Gender split

100% boys · 0% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More Hebrew boys' names

Other names starting with J