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Why parents love James- Six US presidents were named James — more than any other name.
- James Bond is the most famous fictional character of the 20th century.
- One syllable with the most commanding snap in English: JAYMZ.
- It has NEVER left the US top 20 — unkillable popularity.
- LeBron James is the greatest basketball player of his generation.
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The vibe of James
presidentialBondunkillablecommandingroyalcultural-iconsupplantereternal
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Origin & history of James
Hebrew Ya'aqov (supplanter)
→ Greek Iakobos
→ Latin Iacomus
→ English James
1
Hebrew / Latin roots
James is the English form of the Late Latin Iacomus, from the Hebrew Ya'aqov (Jacob), meaning supplanter or he who grasps the heel. Two apostles were named James. Six kings of Scotland bore the name, and James VI of Scotland became James I of England, uniting the crowns. Six US presidents were named James (Madison, Monroe, Polk, Buchanan, Garfield, Carter). Ian Fleming's James Bond (1953) created fiction's most famous spy. James has been in the US top 20 for every single year since 1880.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: Biblical — James the apostle; six kings of Scotland; used in English since the medieval period.
3
Today
James remains a beloved choice, ranking #5 in the US. 5,262,396 babies have been named James since 1880.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Britannica, SSA data
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How popular is James?
1947
peak year
James was a name of the World War II era. Through that decade it averaged #2 nationally — one of the era's most chosen names. In 1947, 94,763 babies were given the name — making it the #1 most popular name in the United States that year. It remains in active use today at in the top ten (#5), with roughly 13,210 babies per year. James's usage has held roughly steady recently. The all-time total comes to roughly 5,262,396 registrations.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
94,763
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #1)
(ranked #1)
13,210
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
132,100
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
5,262,396
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
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Numerology of James3
Life path number
The Creator
Creativity, joy and self-expression.
James's Life Path 1 is the leader's number — the name of more leaders than any other. People named James tend to be commanding, versatile, and naturally presidential. They lead as naturally as breathing.
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Born to lead✦
Presidential energy◈
Unkillable presence◎
Commands naturally♡
Versatile authorityJ1
A1
M4
E5
S1
Sum: 12 → Life path 3
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Personality of James✨
Bright & creative
Imaginative, expressive, endlessly inventive.
😊
Magnetic warmth
Their laugh is contagious. People love being near them.
🌈
Eternal optimist
Even in dark moments they find the light.
🗣️
Storyteller
They can describe anything and make it fascinating.
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Famous people named JamesClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
J
James Bond
Fiction's most famous spy.
J
LeBron James
Greatest basketball player of his generation.
J
James Dean
Rebel Without a Cause, Hollywood's eternal rebel.
J
James Brown
The Godfather of Soul.
J
James Madison
Fourth US President, Father of the Constitution.
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If you like James, you may also love◎
Names that sound like JamesIf you love James, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
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Names that combine with JamesSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of James.
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Middle names for JamesThe right middle name turns James into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for James? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for James →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
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