Do you know the meaning of the name James? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the name James, including its meaning, nicknames, popularity, origin, and more!
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According to Baby Center and Behind The Name, the name James is derived from the Hebrew name Jacob and means supplanter, or one who follows. This is the English form of the Late Latin name acomus, a variant of the Biblical Latin form Iacobus and Late Latin Iacomus. The original Hebrew is the name Ya’aqov or Hebrew Yaakov. This is a Biblical name, and two apostles in the New Testament are named James. There is James the Greater, the apostle John’s brother from the Book of Acts, and James the Lesser, son of Alphaeus. There is a third James mentioned in the Bible, James the Just, who is a brother of Jesus.
This name became popular in England in the 13th century, and was used by several kings in Scotland including the 17th century the Scottish king James VI , the first ruler of all Britain. In America, this name has made the top 20 since 1880, and was the #1 name in the United States from 1940 to 1952. Nicknames for the name James include Jimmie, Jim, Jimi, Jaye, Jimmy, Jaime, Jae, Jamie, Jay, Jem, Jemmy, and more. In other languages and cultures, you may see one of the following alternate spellings, and it can also be spelled Jaymes:
While there are many historical celebrities named James, from Captain James Cook to Scottish inventor James Watt, and Irish novelist and poet James Joyce, the name James has belonged to six different American presidents such as James Monroe and James Buchanan. You may know this name from the famous fictional character James Bond, or from actor James Franco or James Dean. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively names their daughter James.
What are other names that start with the letter J?
If the name James isn’t for you but you still want to name your child something starting with the letter J, don’t fret. There are many different names you can choose from on this list from The Bump:
Josiah
Jefery
Jarrot
Jaymes
Jairus
Joab
Jedidiah
Jeric
Jaylon
Jaray
Juanito
Johnson
Jaeden
Jerell
Jago
Josephus
Jakeb
Jerel
Jaquille
Javi
Jupiter
Joyner
Jamil
Jagur
Justen
Justiniano
Jameel
Jermyn
Joben
Jing
Jakie
Judsen
Jevon
Jefferson
Judson
Jeptha
Jurgen
Jeffries
Josua
Julio
Jotham
Jayson
Jerrard
Jonathon
Jeffrie
Joaquim
Jeaven
Jansen
Jervis
Junius
Jarreth
Jafar
Jenson
Jerardo
Justus
Jamiel
Jaleel
Jennings
Jeovanni
Jeroen
Jeremy
Jeryl
Jarren
Johan
Jayar
Jeshua
Joffre
Jairo
Jorrel
Janek
Jud
Jalal
Javaughn
Jannik
Jered
Jeremiah
Joshuah
Jabbar
Jary
Jerric
Jessup
Jarran
Jorgen
Jovani
Jordon
Josef
Jereme
Jeffry
Jaques
Jonas
Jaycen
Jed
Jonathen
Jeran
Josue
Jasen
Jaris
Jaan
Jarl
Jedd
Janos
Jayvee
Jestin
Jerek
Jacoby
Jedrick
Jamieson
Javon
Joron
Junior
Jacopo
Jedaiah
Jaron
Jonson
Jame
Jerome
Jaedon
Ju
Jensen
Jordy
Jakob
Jeramee
Joaquin
Jamarcus
Jovonni
Jerrall
Jerrel
Juvenal
Jasun
Jacek
Johnte
Jimal
Jarryd
Jahan
Jonathan
Jarah
Jareth
Jennesis
JeanMichel
Julius
Jayron
Jehovah
Joren
Joran
Jeovani
Jerrald
Jorge
Juanluis
Justino
Jamin
Jeramie
Jerrold
Jarrin
Jace
Jiannis
Jalon
Jase
Johnathan
Jacob
Jarrel
Jeramey
Jaimison
Josif
Jubal
Jerryd
Jarrad
Jabari
Jordi
Jordaan
Joselito
Josslin
Jaco
Jaffar
Jerryl
Josias
Jemario
Johanan
Jovin
Jeraldo
Jahmal
Jeff
Jarrott
Jarett
Jerrid
Jarman
Jaeger
Jian
Jarvis
Jerrett
Jowell
Jacobo
Jethroe
Jameson
Jamahl
Julien
Javonte
Jamel
Jamond
Jarrod
Jagjit
Juwan
Johntay
Jacksen
Josia
Jareb
Jaroslaw
Jovann
Jarron
Judah
Jarrett
Jerrin
Jerzy
Jobe
Jacson
Jagger
Johari
Jair
Joemar
Jos
Jeno
Japheth
Johnathon
Jaxen
Johnn
Jacen
Jarred
Juanpablo
Janak
Janusz
Jaren
Johar
Jericho
Joachim
Jasper
Joris
Jule
Judge
Jerre
Jerrik
Jeron
Jerad
Jesiah
Jimson
Jaason
Jimar
Jaroslav
Jock
Jamelle
Jakub
Jove
Jordell
Justain
Jeriah
Jawwad
Jontae
Jerrell
Jabez
Justis
Jefry
Jaxson
Jeb
Joed
Jimbo
Jeronimo
Jovanny
Jolyon
Jerrah
Justin
Jonny
Jaspar
Jamall
Jadon
Jemar
Jules
Jaronn
Jeromy
Jocko
Jesus
Jeremiya
Jalil
Jevan
Jannai
Jacksyn
Jonah
Jacinto
Jake
Jeren
Jerett
Jiles
Jereth
Jivan
Jarod
Justo
Jaydon
Jalan
Jarrell
Jamile
Jamal
Jabin
Jorn
Jaisen
Jefford
Jacobi
Joushua
Jerold
Jascha
Joao
Jozef
Jaxon
Jerrome
Jailon
Jomal
Jovon
Joe
Jalenn
Javan
Jacan
Janssen
Jacin
Jackson
Jaice
Jimenez
Joesiah
Jovan
Javed
Jimi
Jader
Jevin
Jerron
Jarryl
Jim
Jak
Jie
Jack
John
Job
Jarrid
Jarard
Jens
Jorma
Jorel
Johann
Jorgan
Jerod
Jerard
Jumaane
Jerelle
Juliano
Jedediah
Jantzen
Jamar
Joesph
Jerah
Johnston
Jonathyn
Jamon
Junichi
Justyn
Jeremias
Jahi
Jerimiah
Jenaro
Jorman
Jammal
Jax
Jamarr
Jehu
Jerren
Jacian
Jeffery
Jimmey
Jones
Jericko
Jaran
Jomar
Jarad
Jamell
Jonn
Jaromir
Johnny
Johannes
Janson
Jarek
Jaylen
Jovanni
Jerman
Jun
Juan
Jesstin
Jerrill
Jaryl
Jackman
Josep
Joffrey
Juma
Jakov
Jaylonn
Jourdain
Jakson
Jeffree
Jaquan
Jacques
Jovi
Jyles
Jakim
Jedrek
Jared
Jose
Jeramy
Jayven
Jef
Jethro
Jabes
Joseph
Jemarr
Jonatan
Jeffy
Juancarlos
Jerroll
Josip
Joziah
Joel
Jiro
Jerald
Jeven
Juri
Jehan
Jorim
Ji
Jamaul
Jasha
Jillean
Jermaine
Judd
Jowan
Jarius
Jerrick
Jonte
Jeffey
Jovany
Jarvell
Jakeem
Jahiro
Joram
Jamill
Jeffrey
Jarell
Jerico
Jaison
Jimmy
Jerick
Jarrard
Jaysen
Justinian
Janko
Jayvon
Jeston
Joash
Jarel
Jefferey
Jasyn
Jabir
Jarid
Jorrell
Jorje
Jabar
Jimmie
Jazon
Japhet
Jediah
Jospeh
Jiri
Jenkins
Josh
Jai
Julyan
Jeovany
Jarret
Jerriel
Jason
Jamaal
Johnie
Jerrico
Jawdat
Jarrah
Jon
Jaelan
Jaquin
Jesper
Jaja
Javier
Jerrod
Jaliyl
Joshua
Judas
Juda
Johon
Jayant
Jaryn
Jachin
Overall, the name James means supplanter. This is of Biblical and Latinic origins, from the Hebrew name Jacob.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Kevin
July 18, 2021
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