James
Origin of the name James:
From the Ecclesiastic Late Latin Iacomus, an evolution of Iacobus which is from the Ecclesiastic Iakōbos, a cognate of the Hebrew Yaakov. The name has its root in ya`aqob (supplanting, seizing by the heel). Some say Iacomus arises from an error in the transcription of manuscripts from the Greek to the Latin by an early monk. Short: Jim. Pet: Jamie, Jimmy.
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman. Buy the bookDoes James sound...
Sibling Names for James...
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Reader Contributions
Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name James!
- Comments and insights on the name James: | Edit
I've always planned on naming my first son James, but I'm terrified of people wanting to call him Jim or Jimmy. I much prefer the Scottish nickname Jamie or just J.
It's worth noting that when James is given as a middle name, a nickname may be created from the initials. BJ, TJ, JJ, AJ, RJ, CJ, DJ - I've heard all of these.
James sounds like a handsome, intelligent and soft-spoken name.
- Personal experiences with the name James: | Edit
Very common middle name.
I love the solid sound of this name. Both my brother(an electrical engineer) and son share the name James. They are both quiet, intelligent men.
- Nicknames for James: | Edit
Jim, Jamie, Jem, Jaime, Jimmy, Jay, Jaymz, jam , junnie, Jaff, Dodge/Dodger (Jammy Dodger), Jimi
- Meanings and history of the name James: | Edit
In some books, James also means "steadfast".
- Famous real-life people named James: | Edit
James Agee, author
James Brown, godfather of soul
James Buchanan, fifteenth President of the United States
Jimmy Buffett
James Callaghan, British Prime Minister (1976-79)
Jimmy Carter, thirty-ninth President of the United States
Jimmy Cliff, reggae musician
James Joyce, Irish modern author
Jimmy Dean, Country music singer and sausage entrepreneur
Jim Carroll, poet
James A. Garfield, twentieth President of the United States
Jim Henson, puppeteer
Jim Hall, jazz guitarist
Jimi Hendrix, rock guitarist
James Earl Jones, American actor
James Madison, fourth President of the United States
James Monroe, fifth President of the United States
Jim Morrison, rock singer (The Doors)
James Knox Polk, eleventh President of the United States
James "Jimmy" Stewart, American actor
James Spader, American Actor
James Dean, American actor who died at an early age in a car accident.
James Cook, British Naval Captain and discoverer of Australia
James Watson, discoverer of DNATwo Crowned Kings of Britain
James Stuart, ("James I of England and James IV of Scotland")
James Stuart ("James II and VII")
James Stuart ("James III and VIII" or "The Old Pretender", was never crowned King)- James in song, story & screen: | Edit
James and the Giant Peach
James Bond
The King James Bible
James Potter from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
James Sirius Potter (II) from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
James (Jamie) Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser, sexy hero of the Outlander books by Diana Gabaldon
James T. Kirk, ,Star Trek, captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise
James Hook, Captain of the Jolly Roger, in Peter Pan
James Buchanan Barnes, Bucky Barnes, Captain America's partner (Marvel comics character)
NameVoyager US Popularity of James Over Time
NameMapper Current Popularity of James by State
Global Popularity of the Name James
- #2 in New Zealand
- #4 in Northern Ireland
- #5 in Australia (Victoria)
- #5 in Ireland
- #5 in Scotland
- #9 in Australia (New South Wales)
- #9 in England
- #10 in Canada (British Columbia)
- #10 in Wales
- #17 in United States
- #23 in Canada (Ontario)
- #24 in Canada (Alberta)
- #60 in Canada (Quebec)
- #404 in Norway
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