James

Meaning: Supplanter, or holder of the heel
Origin: Variant of Jacob (from Hebrew)

Nicknames: Jamie, Jazz, Jaz, Jimmi, Jem

Girl's name · #2873 in the US (2025) · Timeless

1% girls · 99% boys — About 99% of babies named James in recent years have been boys. James →

Popularity over time

Few names move less than James — on the books since 1880, #2873 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 24,000 girls share it. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where James is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 4 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how James ranks in other countries and regions.

#3,209 in Canada (2024).

Famous Jameses

James Dwight Dana — American mineralogist, scientist and zoologist (1813–1895)
James Brown — Nigerian internet personality
James Johnson — Nigerian football player
Jamie Nares — British painter (born 1953)
James Majoos — Australian actor

What Jameses become

Among 28,148 notable people named James:

Spellings & nicknames

About 840 girls a year are given Jamie as their full name.

Similar names: Jamie · Roslyn · Jayne · Joanie · Doris · Jacquelyn

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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