- Meaning
- One who follows (from Jacob)
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- US top 10
- Style
- Classic
- Used in
- English-speaking countries
Nicknames for James
What friends, grandparents and the playground will call them, depending on where they grow up.
- English
- Jamie, Jim, Jimmy, Jay
What people expect from a James
James is built from soft sounds. Studies of name sounds find people expect someone with a soft name to be warm, agreeable and calm. It is very popular right now, so expect another one in the class.
Names set expectations, not personalities. What the research says.
James: name scorecard
Save your future kid some trouble: give them a name they can live and grow with.
Good, with a catch or two
James · nickname: Jamie
- International readabilityReads well across languages, "j" (said differently in English, Spanish, German and French).
- Easy to say and spellSays itself: 2 syllables, spelt how it sounds.
- Not too common, not too strangeVery common right now: expect two in the class and a surname initial forever ("Liam S.").
- Playground-proofNo obvious rude words or rhymes. Kids are creative, though.
- Won't get you sued (or refused)Nothing a registrar would object to in most countries.
- A meaning to be proud ofMeans "One who follows (from Jacob)". Fine, if not inspiring.
More Hebrew names
Strangers shown a face guessed the person's real name well above chance. We may slowly grow into our names.
Zwebner et al. (2017)Questions about James
What does the name James mean?
James is a boy's name of Hebrew origin meaning "One who follows (from Jacob)".
Is James a boy or girl name?
James is usually a boy's name.
How popular is the name James?
James is one of the ten most popular names in the US right now. It is used in English-speaking countries.
What are nicknames for James?
Common nicknames for James are Jamie, Jim, Jimmy and Jay.
Fun, but true. Name meanings come from common etymologies, which sometimes disagree. Height and weight paths are estimates from population growth data and published studies, not a medical assessment. If you're worried about your child's growth, talk to your paediatrician. Full disclaimer