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

Popularity of Jamey by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jamey is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 66% of people named Jamey being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 15 male babies and 7 female babies born with the name Jamey.

The history of the first name Jamey

The name Jamey is an English variation of the biblical name James, which is derived from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov. Ya'aqov is a derivative of the root word 'aqev, meaning "heel" or "supplanter." The name James first appeared in the New Testament as the name of two of Jesus' apostles, James the son of Zebedee and James the son of Alphaeus.

Jamey emerged as a diminutive form of James during the Middle English period, around the 13th century. It was likely influenced by the French form of the name, Jacques. The name Jamey gained popularity in the English-speaking world as a more informal and affectionate variant of James.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jamey can be found in the 14th-century work "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer, where a character named Jamey is mentioned. In the 16th century, the name appeared in the historical records of the English court, with a courtier named Jamey Fitzjames serving under King Henry VIII.

Notable historical figures with the name Jamey include Jamey Shields (1807-1879), an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Senator from Illinois. Jamey Tart (1752-1833) was a British naval officer who gained fame for his exploits during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the literary world, Jamey Joyce (1882-1941) was an Irish novelist and poet, best known for his groundbreaking work "Ulysses." Jamey Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) was an American novelist whose works, such as "The Last of the Mohicans," helped establish the genre of American frontier literature.

Another notable figure was Jamey Whistler (1834-1903), an American painter and etcher who was a leading figure in the Aesthetic Movement. His famous work, "Whistler's Mother," is an iconic portrait that has become a symbol of American art.

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 Jamey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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