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Name at a glance

James

James is an English form of Jacob, traditionally connected with supplanter or holder of the heel.

Ranked #6 in US baby names in 2025, peaked at #1 in 1940, stable over the past 5 years.

James is one of the great English Christian classics, carried by several New Testament figures and by centuries of saints, kings, writers, and ordinary believers.

Browse names
OriginHebrew through Greek, Latin, and English
GenderBoy
FeelClassic
PronunciationJAYMZ

Is James biblical?

Yes

Biblical status Direct biblical person

James is the standard English translation form borne by several named New Testament figures, including the apostle James son of Zebedee and James the brother of Jesus; it renders the Greek Iakobos, from Hebrew Jacob.

Is James a Christian name?

Yes

Christian tradition Foundational, across traditions

James is a durable cross-tradition Christian name through its New Testament apostles, the Epistle of James, and Saint James the Greater venerated in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican tradition.

Plain answer

James is the English biblical name of several New Testament figures and a foundational Christian classic used across all major traditions.

Confidence High Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of James

James comes through a long language path from the Hebrew name Jacob. The traditional meaning is often given as supplanter or one who takes by the heel, but the Christian significance of James comes more from New Testament use than from the literal root alone.

Name path

How Jacob became James

James and Jacob are historically related names. The path runs through Greek and Latin forms before arriving at the English James.

That means James is not a separate biblical root so much as an English Christian form of a very old Hebrew name.

Sound

How to pronounce James

Phonetic
JAYMZ
IPA
/dʒeɪmz/

1 syllable · stress: JAYMZ · ends in a consonant

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Jacob
  • Jaime
  • Jacobus
  • Iago
  • Diego
  • Jacques
  • Iacopo

Short forms and nicknames

  • Jim
  • Jimmy
  • Jimbo
  • Jamie
  • Jay

Languages

James in other languages

Greek
ἸάκωβοςIakōbos
Latin
IacomusThe Late Latin Iacomus is the bridge form between Iacobus (Jacob) and the modern Romance / English James branch.
Spanish
Jaime
French
Jacques
German
Jakob
Italian
Giacomo
Portuguese
TiagoThe Portuguese Tiago comes from the medieval salutation Sant'Iago, "Saint James"; Diego in Spanish has the same origin.
Russian
ЯковYakov
Polish
Jakub

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

In the New Testament, James is associated with James the son of Zebedee, James the son of Alphaeus, and James the brother of the Lord. The name also became deeply established in Christian Europe and English-speaking churches.

Scripture

The biblical figure

Several men named James appear in the New Testament, including apostles and early church leaders. This gives the name a broad apostolic and church-history resonance.

Bearers

Notable people named James

  • biblical

    James son of ZebedeeApostle and brother of John, one of the inner three with Peter, first apostle martyred per Acts 12

  • biblical

    James the brother of JesusLeader of the Jerusalem church in Acts and traditional author of the Epistle of James

  • historical

    James I of EnglandKing of England, Scotland, and Ireland who commissioned the King James Bible, 1566 to 1625

  • historical

    James MadisonFourth president of the United States and principal author of the Bill of Rights, 1751 to 1836

  • historical

    James JoyceIrish novelist, author of Ulysses and Dubliners, 1882 to 1941

  • historical

    James BaldwinAmerican novelist and essayist, author of Go Tell It on the Mountain and The Fire Next Time, 1924 to 1987

  • historical

    James BrownAmerican singer known as the Godfather of Soul, 1933 to 2006

  • modern

    James CameronCanadian filmmaker known for Titanic, Avatar, and Terminator, born 1954

Saint

Saint James the Greater

Traditions
Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican
Patron of
Spain, pilgrims, veterinarians, laborers

James the son of Zebedee is venerated especially in Spain through the shrine at Santiago de Compostela. James the brother of the Lord, traditional author of the Epistle of James, is commemorated separately.

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

James has been one of the most durable Christian names in English. It feels traditional, royal, literary, biblical, and approachable, with Jim and Jamie offering softer everyday forms.

Recent US use

James in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#6
Peak rank
#1 in 1940
Recent trend
stable over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

For families

For families looking at James

For a Christian family, James is a strong classic. It carries biblical roots without sounding unusual and works well for families who want a name that can move easily through childhood and adulthood.

Common questions

What does James mean?

James is an English form of Jacob, traditionally connected with supplanter or holder of the heel.

Is James a biblical name?

Yes. Several New Testament figures are named James.

Is James the same name as Jacob?

Historically, James and Jacob are related forms that developed through different language paths.

Sources

Sources for James

  • The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, E. G. Withycombe (3rd edition)Supports: English form of Jacob; development via Greek Iakobos and Latin Iacomus.
  • The Gospel of Matthew, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: biblical figure; James son of Zebedee called in Matthew 4:21.
  • The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, David Hugh Farmer (5th edition)Supports: Saint James the Greater; venerated at Santiago de Compostela; feast day (July 25).

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

JohnJames and John are brothers, sons of Zebedee; together with Peter they form the inner circle of the Twelve at the Transfiguration and Gethsemane.MatthewBoth are apostles named in every NT list of the Twelve (Matthew 10, Mark 3, Luke 6, Acts 1).LukeBoth names belong to the New Testament Gospel-writing tradition; James the brother of the Lord is named in the Acts narrative Luke wrote.JosephJoseph is James' father in the synoptic identification of James the Less; both names anchor the broader Holy Family naming circle.