James first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name James has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of James

Traditional English form of the name Jacob, of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".

Popularity of James by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, James is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named James being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 11,670 male babies and 79 female babies born with the name James.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 79 baby girls were named James in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 11,670 79
2022 12,028 84
2021 12,429 68
2020 12,368 66
2019 13,174 68
2018 13,629 45
2017 14,346 77
2016 14,905 67
2015 14,857 39
2014 14,456 42
2013 13,586 28
2012 13,449 28
2011 13,267 30
2010 13,895 30
2009 14,217 51
2008 15,186 32
2007 15,968 33
2006 16,252 46
2005 16,140 26
2004 16,468 95
2003 16,895 34
2002 16,966 31
2001 17,073 42
2000 17,990 40
1999 18,554 40
1998 19,687 45
1997 20,405 42
1996 21,163 62
1995 22,730 57
1994 24,774 67
1993 26,253 75
1992 28,508 70
1991 30,514 95
1990 32,359 115
1989 32,712 176
1988 32,521 244
1987 32,662 246
1986 34,047 273
1985 35,865 287
1984 35,867 238
1983 36,342 282
1982 38,878 317
1981 38,301 272
1980 39,323 271
1979 39,363 261
1978 39,903 269
1977 40,043 273
1976 38,304 252
1975 39,576 254
1974 41,345 250

The history of the first name James

The name James originated from the Hebrew name Jacob, which means "supplanter" or "one who follows". The earliest recorded use of the name James dates back to the New Testament, where it was the name given to two of Jesus Christ's apostles. One was James, the son of Zebedee, and the other was James, the son of Alphaeus.

The name James was initially a variation of the Latin name Iacomus, which was derived from the Greek form of the Hebrew name Jacob, Iakobos. This variation became popular in the early Christian era and was widely adopted across Europe.

In the Middle Ages, the name James gained widespread popularity, particularly in England, where it was associated with several notable figures. One of the most famous bearers of the name was James I of England, who reigned from 1603 to 1625. He was the first monarch of the House of Stuart and played a significant role in the development of the English monarchy.

Another notable figure with the name James was James Cook, the renowned British explorer and navigator. Born in 1728, Cook is celebrated for his extensive voyages across the Pacific Ocean, during which he mapped numerous islands and coastlines, including the eastern coast of Australia.

In the realm of literature, James Joyce, the celebrated Irish novelist and poet, is one of the most famous bearers of the name. Born in 1882, Joyce is best known for his groundbreaking novel "Ulysses", which is considered a masterpiece of modernist literature.

The name James has also been borne by several U.S. presidents, including James Madison, the fourth president, who served from 1809 to 1817 and is known as the "Father of the Constitution". James K. Polk, the 11th president, served from 1845 to 1849 and is remembered for overseeing the acquisition of vast territories during the Mexican-American War.

Throughout history, the name James has maintained its popularity and significance, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries. It continues to be a widely used name in many parts of the world, carrying with it a rich heritage and associations with notable figures from various fields.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name James was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of James, please contact us.

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"James first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/james-meaning-and-history/.

"James first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/james-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

James first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/james-meaning-and-history/.

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