James

At a Glance: Name: James – Meaning: heel-grabber, traditionally rendered 'supplanter' (same root as Jacob) – Origin: Hebrew – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: JAYMZ

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James is a Hebrew boy's name pronounced JAYMZ (/ˈdʒeɪmz/), traditionally rendered as 'supplanter' from a root meaning 'heel-grabber' — the same root behind the name Jacob. It fits both a clean, modern and timeless, classic style, which is a fairly rare combination for a name with this much history behind it.

Meaning & Origin of James

Meaning: Heel-grabber, traditionally rendered 'supplanter' (same root as jacob).

Origin: Hebrew.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce James

Phonetic: JAYMZ   IPA: /ˈdʒeɪmz/

Popularity of James

James hit its all-time peak at #1 in 1940, with 62,481 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had settled to #5 with 11,793 babies, still a top-five name after more than a century in the SSA's 1880-2024 records.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make James Name Art

Free printable nursery art for James, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• John
• Alijah
• Anne
• Ben
• Boaz
• Coby

FAQ

What does the name James mean?

Heel-grabber, traditionally rendered ‘supplanter’ (same root as jacob). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/James)

How do you pronounce James?

James is pronounced JAYMZ (IPA: /ˈdʒeɪmz/).

Is James a popular name right now?

James peaked at #1 in 1940 and is ranked #5 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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