James

Meaning of James

James means 'supplanter,' which is someone who takes the place of another, often through cunning or strategy.

James has Hebrew roots — browse every Hebrew baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of James

James has held fairly steady, sitting around #6 in 2025 after peaking at #4 in 2017.

Notable people named James

• LeBron James
  Professional basketball player
• James Cameron
  Film director and producer
• James Earl Jones
  Actor (voice of Darth Vader)
• James Franco
  Actor and filmmaker
• James Madison
  4th US President

More Hebrew names

Questions about the name James

What does the name James mean?

James means james means 'supplanter,' which is someone who takes the place of another, often through cunning or strategy, and it comes from Hebrew origins.

Is James a boy's or a girl's name?

James is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name James?

In 2025, James ranked #6 for boys, down from #5 the year before.

When was James most popular?

James peaked at #4 in 2017.