James

Boys

Best rank #9 (2016) · ranked in 18 years

James climbed onto the charts in 2008 and stayed listed for 18 years, topping out at #9 in 2016.

It climbed from #25 in 2008 to #11 in 2025.

As of the latest count (2025), James sits at #11.

At its peak year of 2016, James was given to 14,987 newborns.

James was most popular around 2016, making it characteristic of the 2010s generation.

Rank by year

11020200820172025
  1. 20251112,004
  2. 20241111,924
  3. 2023911,818
  4. 2022912,204
  5. 20211112,542
  6. 20201212,456
  7. 20191113,266
  8. 2018913,695
  9. 20171014,439
  10. 2016914,987
  11. 20151314,904
  12. 20141414,506
  13. 20131813,624
  14. 20122013,486
  15. 20112413,305
  16. 20102613,931
  17. 20092614,274
  18. 20082515,222

Similar names

Names similar to James include Jacob, Joshua, Jayden, which share a starting letter or overlapping popularity. Compare their rank trajectories below.

Origin & meaning

James is the English form of the Hebrew name Ya'akov (Jacob), which passed through Latin as Iacobus, then Vulgar Latin Iacomus, before becoming James via Old French. The underlying Hebrew root is generally linked to "heel" or "to follow/supplant", though it is also popularly glossed as "supplanter" or "one who follows".

Notable people named James

  • James Madison - Fourth President of the United States and principal author of the US Constitution
  • James Dean - American actor known for Rebel Without a Cause and East of Eden
  • James Earl Jones - American actor known for voicing Darth Vader in Star Wars and his role in Field of Dreams

James has remained one of the most enduring names in American history, borne by six US presidents, and continues to rank among the top boys' names in Social Security Administration data decade after decade.

Where James is most popular

In 2025, James was recorded in 51 of the 51 US jurisdictions the SSA reports on, with 11,961 births nationwide.

The largest share came from Texas at 1,057 births, 8.8% of the national total, where it ranked #23 that year.

By census region the name skews South, which accounts for 42.2% of James births, against 17.5% Northeast, 20.8% Midwest, 19.5% West.

State rankings spread more than the national figure suggests: James placed as high as #1 in Mississippi and as low as #35 in New Mexico.

Top states, 2025

  1. 1Texas1,057 · #23 there
  2. 2California1,015 · #34 there
  3. 3Florida672 · #17 there
  4. 4New York664 · #13 there
  5. 5North Carolina471 · #5 there

Share by census region

  • Northeast17.5%
  • Midwest20.8%
  • South42.2%
  • West19.5%

Shares are of this name's national total, not of each state's births. SSA withholds any name under 5 occurrences per state and year. Browse all states

Frequently asked questions

Is James a popular name?
James reached a best rank of #9 in 2016 and has charted in 18 years.
Where does James rank now?
In the most recent data (2025), James ranks #11.
Is James a boy or girl name?
It is recorded primarily as a boys' name.
When was James most popular?
James peaked around 2016.

Use this chart

Free to republish in articles, newsletters, and posts. Keep the source link with it.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) - Popular Baby Names (national)