The Baby Name Wizard

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

My first and middle names are James Kenneth. My great grandfather used to call me Jake. Then I found out about another person also named James Kenneth who actually went by Jake. I'm not sure where that comes from, but at least I know now that my great grandfather wasn't crazy and there is some precedent to it.

Second name of Christopher and Theodore.

My younger cousin who is only seven is named James. He is the younger brother to three sisters, Hayley Marilyn and Danya.

My mom’s current boyfriend is named James. Most hard-headed, old-fashioned, gassy guy I know. And, yeah, that last bit sounds weird but he’s lactose intolerant and seems to forever consume dairy. He’s also kind of silent-but-deadly (personality wise), and likes to poke fun at people when the mood strikes him.

Nicknames for James: | Edit

Jamie, Jay, Jay-Jay, Jim, Jimmy, Jimbo, Jem, Jim-JIm, Jimz, J., JayBird, Blue-jay

Jake (for James Kenneth)

Meanings and history of the name James: | Edit

Of Hebrew origin, meaning "He who Supplants".

Famous real-life people named James: | Edit

James "Jim" Parsons, actor, "The Big Bang Theory"
James Remar, American actor
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 Maslow, Actor/Singer
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 DNA
James Franco, American actor
James Wilkie Broderick, son of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick
James Cagney, American movie actor, famous for gangster roles and "Yankee Doodle Dandy"

Two 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 Hook, rugby player for Wales

James in song, story & screen: | Edit

James Holloway, the name of a character in the popular Fictionpress series Blood, Stone, And Ice
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 "Saywer" Ford, character on the TV series "Lost" played by Josh Holloway
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)
James "Jim" Hawkins, young hero of the book "Treasure Island" and the Disney movie "Treasure Planet"
James Sunderland, main character from survival-horror video game "Silent Hill 2"
James Diamond, 'Big Time Rush'
James Rassmussen, a character from the Night World series by L.J. Smith
James is the name of one of the Epistles of the New Testament
DS James Hathaway, character in "Inspector Lewis"