MEANING & HISTORY
What does James mean?
James developed through Late Latin Iacomus, a variant of Iacobus, from Hebrew Yaʿaqov. Its English history is therefore distinct from the spelling Jacob while sharing the same older name.
The biblical heel-holder or supplanter explanation competes with a proposed older protective divine-name analysis.
References for this explanation
Common nicknames
These source-documented links describe name usage, not national frequency. Some apply to a particular public bearer; families may use other nicknames.
Open nickname finder →Pronunciation & syllables
Synthetic voice reading
Wiktionary / Kaikki / Wiktextract · CC BY-SA 4.0
Origin and name formation
Latin / Hebrew
People with the name James
DOCUMENTED NAMESAKE
James Younghusband
Philippine footballer
Descriptions: Wikidata contributors (CC0).
Related forms & spellings
Similar names to James
Explore names with a similar opening or ending.
Names in this collection
- Jade♂♀The ornamental stone jade
- Jafet♂Form of biblical Japheth
- Jaime♂♀Spanish form of James, from Jacob
- Jake♂Medieval form of Jack; also short for Jacob
- Jamal♂♀Beauty
- Jamar♂Possibly a blend of Jamal and Lamar
- Jamie♂♀Affectionate form of James
- Jamil♂Beautiful or handsome
Recorded combinations with James
9 source-reported compound forms include this name as a component. Each part keeps its own history.
Names in this collection
- Anthony James♂Anthony: English Antonius form with an unresolved deeper root; James: English form through Latin Iacomus and Iacobus
- Arnold James♂Arnold: Germanic eagle and power elements; James: English biblical name through Latin Iacomus
- Eric James Armand♂Eric, James and Armand: three independently documented names
- James Felix♂Jacob-family James with Latin lucky or successful
- James Richard♂Jacob-family James; ruler and firm or brave in Richard
- Jesse James·Biblical Jesse with Jacob-family James
- Karyn James·Karyn: Karen variant; James: Jacob-family form
- Randy James·Randy: familiar form of Randall, Randolf or Miranda; James: English Iacomus/Iacobus form in the Jacob family
Explore James further
PSA · OFFICIAL BIRTH RECORDS
James in the birth records
Exact spelling and stated year in the published name tables.
Boys’ registered births
Records & sources
Recorded use
- OpenHalalan / COMELEC · 2001
- 27 elected-candidate records ·
JAMES
· CSV row 892 · ODbL 1.0 - Wikidata
- 32 person records with this given name · Q677191 · CC0
These records document use of the spelling; they are separate from birth statistics.
Follow the sources
- OpenHalalan — pinned 2001 COMELEC transcription (opens in a new tab)
- COMELEC — 2001 List of Elected Candidates (opens in a new tab)
- COMELEC — 2001 List of Elected Candidates (opens in a new tab)
- COMELEC — 2001 List of Elected Candidates (opens in a new tab)
- Wikidata given-name item Q677191 — James (opens in a new tab)
- Wikidata — James Younghusband (opens in a new tab)
- Wikidata — James Gaines (opens in a new tab)
- Wiktionary contributors — James (Cebuano) (opens in a new tab)
- Wiktionary contributors — James (English) (opens in a new tab)
- Behind the Name — James (opens in a new tab)
- Behind the Name — Jacob (opens in a new tab)