James is an extremely popular boys' name in United States, ranking #4 in 2022 with 12,109 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 1996 with 21,164 births ranking #17. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 42.8%. In 2022, approximately 1 in every 144 boys born was named James. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
James is one of the great enduring classics of English naming. It belongs to the Jacob family and traditionally carries the same meaning usually glossed as "supplanter".
The name has been used continuously for centuries through biblical, royal, literary, and everyday family tradition. Its strength lies in sounding both substantial and effortlessly familiar.