James is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #40 in 2024. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.
Origin & Meaning
Hebrew — Supplanter; He who follows
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UK Rank 2024
#40
US Rank #5
About the Name James
James is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 5453 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #2 in 1997 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 27 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
The name carries Hebrew roots, where it means "Supplanter; He who follows". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
James is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #5, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name James
Unlikely. With around 1,252 UK babies named James per year, your child will almost certainly be the only James in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
James is currently rising in popularity in the UK, up 5453 places over the last five years to #40 in 2024. If this trend continues, it will become more common in classrooms over the next decade.
The name James has Hebrew origins and means "Supplanter; He who follows". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named James include: James Joyce (biography) — James Joyce is a biography of the Irish modernist James Joyce written by Richard Ellmann, which informs an understanding of this author's complex works.; Bryce James — Bryce Maximus James is an American college basketball player for the Arizona Wildcats of the Big 12 Conference.; James Boswell — James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck – 19 May 1795), was a Scottish biographer, diarist, and lawyer, born in Edinburgh..
Yes — James is very popular in the United States, ranked #5 in 2024. It's a transatlantic favourite used widely on both sides of the Atlantic.
1,252
UK babies named James (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.7
In a school of 600
↑ 5453 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name James
Likely around 1 other James in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to James
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
James Joyce is a biography of the Irish modernist James Joyce written by Richard Ellmann, which informs an understanding of this author's complex works. It was published in 1959.
Bryce Maximus James is an American college basketball player for the Arizona Wildcats of the Big 12 Conference. He is the second child of National Basketball Association (NBA) player LeBron James and the younger brother of NBA player Bronny James.
James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck – 19 May 1795), was a Scottish biographer, diarist, and lawyer, born in Edinburgh. He is best known for his biography of the English writer Samuel Johnson, Life of Samuel Johnson, which is commonly said to be the greatest biography written in the English language.
James the Great (Koine Greek: Ἰάκωβος, romanized: Iákōbos; Classical Syriac: ܝܥܩܘܒ, romanized: Yaʿqōḇ; died c. 44) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus.
James Thomas Fishback is an American investor and political candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial election. Fishback worked for hedge fund Greenlight Capital from 2021 until 2023.