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James name meaning
First Name
5.2m
in the U.S.
since 1880
5.2m
in the U.S.
since 1880
Last Name
249k
in the U.S.
in 2010
249k
in the U.S.
in 2010
Girls
Boys
Meaning and Origin
What does the name James mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of James
User Submitted Origins
English
55%
Hebrew
22%
American
5%
Arabic
2%
German
2%
African American
2%
African
2%
Irish
2%
Jewish
2%
Spanish
2%
Welsh
2%
User Submitted Meanings
- According to a user from New York, U.S., the name James is of English origin and means "Hello, Supplanter, Fierce Warrior, and Gift of All Gods".
- A submission from Wisconsin, U.S. says the name James means "Gift of all gods" and is of Spanish origin.
- A user from the United Kingdom says the name James is of English origin and means "Legendary gift of god and gabriel".
- A submission from New York, U.S. says the name James means "A gift for god" and is of English origin.
- According to a user from the United Kingdom, the name James is of English origin and means "The messenger of God ( John the baptist ) James = john in English".
- According to a user from Canada, the name James means "May god protect".
- According to a user from Mississippi, U.S., the name James is of Hebrew origin and means "God Chosen".
- A user from Wisconsin, U.S. says the name James means "God like or heavenly".
- According to a user from Oregon, U.S., the name James is of Hebrew origin and means "A Gift".
- According to a user from California, U.S., the name James is of English origin and means "Fierce warrior".
- 2 submissions from the United States and the United Kingdom agree the name James means "love" and is of African American / English origin.
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun James
Senses
- William James, an American psychologist and philosopher (1842-1910). He was the brother of Henry James.synonyms: William James.
- Henry James, an American novelist and critic, born 1843, died 1916. He was the brother of William James.synonyms: Henry James.
- Saint James the Apostle, a disciple of Jesus; brother of John; author of The Epistle of James in the New Testament.synonyms: Saint James, St. James, Saint James the Apostle.
- The James River, a tributary of the Missouri River.synonyms: James River.
Other Dictionary Sources
- A New Testament book attributed to Saint James the Apostle
- A river that rises in North Dakota and flows southward across South Dakota to the Missouri
- A river in Virginia that flows east into Chesapeake Bay at Hampton Roads
- (New Testament) disciple of Jesus; brother of John; author of the Epistle of James in the New Testament
- Writer who was born in the United States but lived in England (1843-1916)
- United States pragmatic philosopher and psychologist (1842-1910)
- United States outlaw who fought as a Confederate soldier and later led a band of outlaws that robbed trains and banks in the West until he was murdered by a member of his own gang (1847-1882)
- The first Stuart to be king of England and Ireland from 1603 to 1625 and king of Scotland from 1567 to 1625; he was the son of Mary Queen of Scots and he succeeded Elizabeth I; he alienated the British Parliament by claiming the divine right of kings (1566-1625)
- The last Stuart to be king of England and Ireland and Scotland; overthrown in 1688 (1633-1701)
- A Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
Wiktionary
The English New Testament form of Jacob, from Middle English James, from Old French James, from Vulgar Latin Iacomus, spoken and altered pronunciation of Latin Iacobus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Ἰακώβ (Iakṓb), from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿăqōḇ). Doublet of Jacob.
- (biblical) The twentieth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the general epistle of James.
- One of two Apostles, James the Greater and James the Less, often identified with James, brother of Jesus.
- A male given name from Hebrew popular since the Middle Ages. Also a common middle name.
- An English patronymic surname.
James was also found in the following language(s): Cebuano, Danish, Hungarian, Middle English, and Swedish
Notable Persons Named James
Notable Persons Named James
James Mattis
James Mattis is a military person. His military service ended in 2013.
James Franco
James Franco is an actor and filmmaker. His ongoing career started in 1997. James was given the name James Edward Franco on April 19th, 1978 in Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Sir Paul McCartney
Sir Paul McCartney is a musician. His ongoing career started in 1957. Paul was given the name James Paul McCartney on June 18th, 1942 in Liverpool, England.
James McAvoy
James McAvoy is an actor. His ongoing career started in 1995. James was born on April 21st, 1979 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
James Comey
James Comey is a 7th Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Deputy Attorney General, and United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. James was born on December 14th, 1960 in Yonkers, New York.
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey is an actor, stand-up comedy, screenwriter, film producer, stand-up comedian, and producer. Jim was given the name James Eugene Carrey on January 17th, 1962 in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.
- James CordenActor
- Jamie DornanActor
- Sir Jimmy SavileDj
- James VI and IRoyalty
- James CameronFilmmaker
- Jimmy KimmelComedian
- James StewartActor
- James DeanActor
- James MadisonMember of the U.S. House of Representatives
- Jimmy FallonMusician
- Jim MorrisonMusician
- James MarsdenActor
- Jim ParsonsActor
- Iggy PopMusician
Notable Persons With the Last Name James
Notable Persons With the Last Name James
LeBron James
LeBron James is a basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat in the National Basketball Association. He was most prominent from 2003 to present. LeBron was born on December 30th, 1984 in Akron, Ohio.
Lily James
Lily James is an actress. She was most prominent from 2010 to present. Lily was given the name Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson on April 5th, 1989 in Esher.
Theo James
Theo James is an actor and musician. He was most active from 2010 to present. Theo was given the name Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis on December 16th, 1984 in Oxford. Theo is also known as Taptiklis and Theodore Peter James Kinnaird.
Jesse James
Jesse James was a crime and criminal. He was most active from 1866 to 1882. Jesse was given the name Jesse Woodson James by his parents Robert S. James and Zerelda James on September 5th, 1847 in Kearney, Missouri, U.S. Jesse is also known as James and Jesse Woodson. He passed away on April 3rd, 1882.
Kevin James
Kevin was given the name Kevin George Knipfing on April 26th, 1965 in Mineola, New York, U.S.
Mickie James
Mickie James is a country music musician. Mickie was born on August 31st, 1979 in Richmond, Virginia.
Common last names for James
Ethnicity Distribution
| Ethnicity | James | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| █ | White | 51.58% | 64.26% |
| █ | African American | 38.86% | 11.96% |
| █ | Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander | 1.27% | 4.85% |
| █ | American Indian and Alaska Native | 2.58% | 0.69% |
| █ | Two or More Ethnicities | 2.64% | 1.76% |
| █ | Hispanic or Latino | 3.08% | 16.26% |
Of Last Name James
People with the last name James are most frequently White or African American
Entire United States
Fun Facts about the name James
| #1 | Most Popular Boy Names |
| #13 | Fastest Rising Boy Names |
| #3 | Classic Boy Names |