James Name Meaning and Origin

James Madison Politician · Born 1751 · United States James Madison is best known as the fourth president of the United States and as one of America’s Founding Fathers. He was an American statesman and diplomat who served as president from 1809 to 1817.	James Monroe Politician · Born 1758 · United States James Monroe was most famous for being the fifth president of the United States, serving from 1817 to 1825. He was an American Founding Father and is remembered as the last Founding Father to become president, as well as the last president from the Virginia dynasty.	James A. Garfield Politician · Born 1831 · United States James A. Garfield is best known as the 20th president of the United States. He served in 1881 until he died after being shot that summer, and before the presidency he was a preacher, lawyer, Civil War general, and longtime member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
James K. Polk Politician · Born 1795 · United States James K. Polk is best known as the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. A protégé of Andrew Jackson and a Democrat, he strongly supported Jacksonian democracy and American expansionism.	James Buchanan Politician · Born 1791 · United States James Buchanan Jr. was the 15th president of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. He is best known for leading the country in the years just before the Civil War.	James Cameron Actor · Born 1954 · Canada James Cameron is a Canadian filmmaker best known for directing blockbuster films like Titanic and Avatar. Born in 1954, he has made a significant impact on the film industry with his innovative use of special effects and storytelling.

James Dean

Actor · Born 1931 · United States

James Dean was an American actor best known as a 1950s Hollywood icon, especially for his roles in Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant. Even though his career lasted only five years, he had a huge influence on cinema and popular culture.

JD Vance

Politician · Born 1984 · United States

JD Vance is best known as the 50th vice president of the United States. He is an American politician and author who previously represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 2023 to 2025, and he also wrote the memoir Hillbilly Elegy.

James Brown

Actor|musician|politician · Born 1920 · United States

James Brown was a hugely influential American singer, songwriter, and performer, best known as a pioneer of funk music. He became famous for high-energy hits like "I Got You (I Feel Good)," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," and "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine."

James Stewart

Actor · Born 1908 · United States

James Stewart was most famous for being a beloved American film actor, known for his distinctive drawl and everyman charm. He appeared in 80 films between 1935 and 1991, including It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Rear Window, and he also served as a military aviator.

James VI and I

Royal · Born 1566 · Kingdom of Ireland

James VI and I was the king who united the crowns of Scotland and England in 1603, becoming the first monarch to rule both countries. He is best known for commissioning the King James Bible, a significant English translation of the Bible. His reign marked the beginning of the Stuart era in British history.

James Gandolfini

Actor · Born 1961 · United States

James Gandolfini was an American actor best known for playing Tony Soprano in HBO's The Sopranos. He became famous for his powerful performance as the complex mob boss in the hit series, which aired from 1999 to 2007.

James Callaghan

Politician · Born 1912 · United Kingdom

James Callaghan was a British politician best known for serving as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979. He also led the Labour Party and was the only person to hold all four Great Offices of State: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, and Prime Minister.

James II of England

Politician|royal · Born 1633 · Kingdom of England

James II of England is most famous for being the Catholic king deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. He ruled England and Ireland as James II and Scotland as James VII from 1685 until 1688.

James Franco

Actor · Born 1978 · United States

James Franco is an American actor and filmmaker best known for playing Harry Osborn in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. He has also appeared in well-known films like Milk, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Oz the Great and Powerful.

James Woods

Actor · Born 1947 · United States

James Woods is an American actor best known for his intense, fast-talking performances in films like Salvador, Ghosts of Mississippi, and Casino. He has won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, and he has also been nominated for two Academy Awards.

James Caan

Actor · Born 1940 · United States

James Caan was an American actor best known for playing Sonny Corleone in The Godfather. He rose to fame with that role in the 1972 classic and earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor.

James McAvoy

Actor · Born 1979 · United Kingdom

James McAvoy is a Scottish actor and director best known for films like Atonement, Split, and X-Men: First Class. He made his screen debut as a teenager in The Near Room in 1995 and worked mostly in television before his film career took off in 2003.

James Coburn

Actor · Born 1928 · United States

James Coburn was an American actor best known for his tough, charismatic roles in action films and Westerns. Over a 45-year career, he appeared in more than 70 films and around 100 TV productions, with notable movies including The Magnificent Seven, Our Man Flint, and The Great Escape.

James Sie

Actor · Born 1962 · United States

James Sie is an American actor and author, best known for voicing Jackie Chan in Jackie Chan Adventures. He has also voiced other characters in the series and is recognized for his work in animation.

James Earl Jones

Actor · Born 1931 · United States

James Earl Jones was an American actor best known for his commanding voice and powerful performances on stage and screen. He was especially famous for voicing Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in The Lion King, and he was widely respected as a trailblazer for Black actors in entertainment.

James IV of Scotland

Politician|royal · Born 1473 · Kingdom of Scotland

James IV of Scotland is best known as the Scottish king who died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He ruled from 1488 after taking the throne at just fifteen, following the death of his father, James III, during the rebellion and Battle of Sauchieburn.

James Garner

Actor · Born 1928 · United States

James Garner was an American actor best known for starring in Maverick and The Rockford Files. He also appeared in popular films like The Great Escape, The Americanization of Emily, and Grand Prix.

O. J. Simpson

Actor · Born 1947 · United States

O. J. Simpson was best known as a star NFL running back, especially during his time with the Buffalo Bills, and is widely considered one of the greatest at his position. He later became an actor and media personality, appearing in projects like The Naked Gun, but his legacy was heavily overshadowed by the 1994 murder trial involving Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

James Marsden

Actor · Born 1973 · United States

James Marsden is an American actor best known for roles in X-Men, Enchanted, and Westworld. Born on September 18, 1973, he has earned nominations for two Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe.

James Mason

Actor · Born 1909 · United Kingdom

James Mason was best known as a distinguished English actor who became a major star in both British cinema and Hollywood. He is especially remembered for films like A Star Is Born, Lolita, and North by Northwest.

James Connolly

Politician · Born 1868 · United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

James Connolly was an Irish republican leader, socialist, and trade union organizer best known for his role in the 1916 Easter Rising. Scottish-born and later a major figure in both Irish labor politics and republicanism, he was executed after the rebellion and remains one of the most important figures in modern Irish history.

The Rev

Musician · Born 1981 · United States

James Owen Sullivan, better known as The Rev, was best known as the drummer and a vocalist for the heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. He co-founded the band in 1999 and played a major role in songs like "Afterlife," "A Little Piece of Heaven," and "Bat Country."

J. G. Quintel

Actor · Born 1982 · United States

James Garland Quintel is an American animator, writer, director, producer, and voice actor best known for creating Regular Show. He voiced Mordecai and High Five Ghost on Regular Show and later created and starred in Close Enough as Josh.

J. E. Freeman

Actor · Born 1946 · United States

James E. Freeman was an American actor and poet, best known for his film and television work. He appeared in movies like Alien Resurrection and Miller's Crossing.

Mundell Lowe

Musician · Born 1922 · United States

James Mundell Lowe was an American jazz guitarist best known for his work as a performer, session musician, and composer for film and television. He contributed to projects like Billy Jack and Starsky and Hutch, and later played with André Previn's Trio in the 1990s.

J. Pat O'Malley

Actor · Born 1904 · United Kingdom

J. Pat O'Malley was an English actor and singer best known for his character and voice work in classic Disney films. He appeared in Mary Poppins, voiced roles in The Jungle Book, and was also heard in One Hundred and One Dalmatians, building a long career in American film and television from the 1940s into the early 1980s.

Name	Last Name(s)	Mother	Mother famous for	Fame Level	Father	Father famous for	Fame Level
James	McCartney	Linda McCartney	film director	★★★★★	Paul McCartney	film director	★★★★★
James	R. D. McCain				John McCain	television presenter	★★★★★
James	Brown Jr.				James Brown	singer	★★★★★
James	Haven	Marcheline Bertrand	television actor	★★★★★	Jon Voight	television actor	★★★★★
James	Jagger	Jerry Hall	television actor	★★★★★	Mick Jagger	singer	★★★★★
James	Loder	Hedy Lamarr	musician	★★★★★
James	Redford				Robert Redford	film director	★★★★★
James	Reynolds	Blake Lively	television actor	★★★★★	Ryan Reynolds	television actor	★★★★★
James	Wilkie Broderick	Sarah Jessica Parker	television actor	★★★★★	Matthew Broderick	film director	★★★★★
James	Rush				Geoffrey Rush	film producer	★★★★★
James	Mitchum				Robert Mitchum	film director	★★★★★
James	Niven				David Niven	television actor	★★★★★
James	Paxton				Bill Paxton	film director	★★★★★
James	Kidston Law				Bonar Law	professional boxer	★★★★★
James	Carragher				Jamie Carragher	association footballer	★★★★★
James	Feldstein				Jonah Hill	film director	★★★★★
James	Garlin				Jeff Garlin	film director	★★★★★
James	Raymond				David Crosby	singer	★★★★★
James	Badgley	Domino Kirke	singer	★★★★★	Penn Badgley	television actor	★★★★★
James	Duke Mason	Belinda Carlisle	singer	★★★★★
James	Waterston				Sam Waterston	television actor	★★★★★
James	Aenas Lumley	Joanna Lumley	film director	★★★★★

James – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country	Gender	Year	Rank	Born	of
Ireland	Boys	2025	#1	—	836
Germany	Boys	2025	#1	—	423
New Zealand	Boys	2010	#2	333	99
KR	Boys	0	#4	32	897
KR		0	#4	5	201
PH	Boys	0	#4	2,180	11,440
United States	Boys	2024	#5	11,793	7,044
FJ		0	#5	2	374
HT	Boys	0	#5	55	903
TW	Boys	0	#5	1,079	7,111
Canada	Boys	2024	#8	1,131	2,588
HT		0	#8	5	399
TW		0	#8	113	4,523
SG	Boys	0	#9	4,646	17,960
CN		0	#10	95	3,857
BI		0	#11	2	425
FJ	Boys	0	#11	7	603
CN	Boys	0	#12	1,287	9,639
MT		0	#12	33	1,767
NL	Boys	2014	#14	204	79
SG		0	#14	471	11,010
BW		0	#16	4	960
MT	Boys	0	#16	379	4,064
ZA	Boys	0	#18	14,090	25,619
MV		0	#19	1	644
NG	Boys	0	#19	18,812	16,906
PH		0	#19	83	5,607
GH	Boys	0	#21	2,696	8,138
HT	Girls	0	#21	3	950
HN		0	#22	1	704
NA		0	#22	12	2,537
NG		0	#23	478	5,926
BW	Boys	0	#24	206	4,685
ET	Boys	0	#25	3	678
GH		0	#25	504	5,396
BN		0	#28	5	2,297
BN	Boys	0	#31	146	6,332
MO		0	#32	21	2,706
ID		0	#33	7	2,238
MV	Girls	0	#34	2	2,021
MY	Boys	0	#34	7,303	25,439
NA	Boys	0	#35	376	6,830
TM	Boys	0	#35	2	614
ZA		0	#35	728	14,421
BI	Boys	0	#36	9	917
DJ	Boys	0	#36	1	657
MV	Boys	0	#36	42	3,375
AE		0	#37	165	10,220
MO	Boys	0	#38	333	5,842
CM		0	#39	17	2,592
JP		0	#39	39	4,057
GE		0	#43	2	997
HK	Boys	0	#43	3,328	12,905
QA		0	#46	55	7,011
HN	Boys	0	#52	1	749
PR		0	#54	2	1,497
JM		0	#55	33	3,714
MY		0	#57	371	12,352
CY		0	#58	3	1,632
LU		0	#59	8	2,830
IN		0	#64	8	2,963
AL		0	#70	7	2,372
CY	Boys	0	#70	65	3,473
AF		0	#74	3	1,883
OM		0	#74	43	6,215
AO		0	#75	3	2,729
CR		0	#80	81	5,526
ID	Boys	0	#80	54	4,130
BG		0	#82	1	1,799
JM	Boys	0	#82	300	6,876
Belgium	Boys	2024	#85	108	401
Switzerland	Boys	2024	#89	49	1,769
KW		0	#92	25	5,216
SD	Boys	0	#92	852	10,523
SD		0	#94	9	2,130
HK		0	#101	361	8,483
ID	Girls	0	#101	2	3,319
CO	Boys	0	#102	10,773	15,656
BN	Girls	0	#106	9	5,459
EC		0	#106	10	2,502
GE	Boys	0	#106	5	2,055
GE	Girls	0	#106	3	1,564
QA	Boys	0	#106	1,290	18,093
CR	Boys	0	#110	1,088	10,188
JP	Boys	0	#110	230	7,909
PA		0	#112	19	3,797
EE	Boys	0	#117	9	2,087
CM	Boys	0	#119	1,090	12,054
MU		0	#124	13	3,613
GR		0	#125	10	3,911
Norway	Boys	2025	#126	9	444
AZ	Boys	0	#128	4	1,400
IQ		0	#128	6	3,533
MU	Boys	0	#132	293	8,477
JO		0	#137	4	2,158
PR	Boys	0	#138	38	2,508
LU	Boys	0	#139	80	4,970
France	Boys	2021	#140	393	2,865
LT	Boys	0	#141	10	2,166
Sweden	Boys	2022	#145	38	1,509
BW	Girls	0	#146	6	4,216
RS	Boys	0	#149	6	2,277
HU	Boys	0	#150	25	3,954
MT	Girls	0	#150	4	3,773
KW	Boys	0	#153	1,208	18,755
PE	Boys	0	#164	3,302	14,506
SA		0	#164	134	10,560
EC	Boys	0	#165	77	3,322
PR	Girls	0	#166	2	3,171
GR	Boys	0	#168	103	6,912
PA	Boys	0	#170	535	9,305
NG	Girls	0	#171	1,958	15,093
CZ		0	#173	13	3,154
DK		0	#173	31	5,198
RU		0	#177	13	3,641
BD		0	#178	50	5,992
CZ	Boys	0	#179	145	6,530
HR		0	#181	1	2,081
UY		0	#182	1	2,477
AE	Boys	0	#184	2,418	22,615
BH		0	#186	475	17,937
SI	Boys	0	#188	22	3,402
LU	Girls	0	#189	2	4,850
AR		0	#190	4	2,915
DK	Boys	0	#192	145	7,401
Austria		0	#201	13	850
BG	Boys	0	#201	19	3,850
AO	Boys	0	#204	39	5,568
PS		0	#206	13	5,692
KZ	Boys	0	#207	85	6,578
PL		0	#207	6	2,600
NA	Girls	0	#211	14	7,146
IR		0	#216	14	4,221
AO	Girls	0	#217	1	4,575
AL	Girls	0	#225	3	4,141
HR	Boys	0	#225	34	3,997
HU	Girls	0	#225	1	3,308
BG	Girls	0	#231	1	3,559
BR	Boys	0	#231	1,385	12,213
PT		0	#232	15	4,161
OM	Boys	0	#233	1,149	17,948
AF	Boys	0	#234	37	3,535
PT	Boys	0	#234	148	7,951
PE		0	#236	75	6,350
PL	Boys	0	#238	102	6,459
CO		0	#241	328	7,768
GH	Girls	0	#241	86	6,973
RU	Boys	0	#241	353	12,621
CL	Boys	0	#242	1,179	13,390
JM	Girls	0	#243	17	7,507
GR	Girls	0	#247	3	6,293
JP	Girls	0	#249	3	6,592
AL	Boys	0	#250	49	5,122
QA	Girls	0	#259	58	15,378
MO	Girls	0	#260	4	7,056
Finland	Boys	0	#262	179	2,041
IL		0	#263	12	6,291
SA	Boys	0	#265	5,257	28,008
GT	Boys	0	#273	240	7,625
BO	Boys	0	#275	529	9,244
GT		0	#275	40	5,948
Canada	Girls	2024	#280	6	2,795
TW	Girls	0	#281	9	8,139
NL	Boys	0	#288	1,270	5,873
PH	Girls	0	#293	99	13,098
Austria	Boys	0	#294	153	2,180
Finland		0	#295	13	830
BR		0	#296	50	5,969
BD	Boys	0	#298	359	10,045
BO		0	#299	83	6,868
SD	Girls	0	#304	42	7,678
NL		0	#305	87	2,481
YE		0	#316	66	8,639
LY		0	#325	228	12,703
JO	Boys	0	#327	51	7,057
KZ	Girls	0	#327	6	5,862
Spain	Boys	0	#332	1,133	5,610
CN	Girls	0	#336	14	8,829
IT	Boys	0	#337	3,418	10,046
JO	Girls	0	#338	2	7,570
PS	Boys	0	#340	226	10,655
CZ	Girls	0	#347	5	5,378
Spain		0	#347	106	2,326
MX	Boys	0	#351	1,288	16,355
OM	Girls	0	#351	46	15,987
Germany		0	#359	80	2,542
MU	Girls	0	#360	3	8,539
PL	Girls	0	#361	4	5,096
MX		0	#367	47	8,339
UY	Boys	0	#368	32	5,922
IQ	Boys	0	#374	338	13,071
CL		0	#375	37	6,867
Germany	Boys	0	#376	870	5,697
EG		0	#385	16	6,387
AR	Boys	0	#386	83	7,628
IL	Boys	0	#388	239	10,983
IR	Boys	0	#394	166	10,162
IN	Boys	0	#396	875	16,750
BD	Girls	0	#398	9	8,413
Finland	Boys	2026	#403	372	3,552
KW	Girls	0	#416	100	19,177
DZ		0	#445	1,187	20,130
LB		0	#457	209	13,263
PA	Girls	0	#467	15	9,861
PT	Girls	0	#470	2	7,952
AE	Girls	0	#472	82	20,968
IT		0	#478	249	4,183
CM	Girls	0	#481	60	11,671
IQ	Girls	0	#483	22	11,303
RU	Girls	0	#485	14	11,913
EG	Boys	0	#494	478	15,035
PS	Girls	0	#506	18	10,981
MA		0	#507	955	20,986
SG	Girls	0	#530	57	18,916
GT	Girls	0	#538	4	7,500
IR	Girls	0	#539	7	8,334
TN		0	#540	327	13,765
CR	Girls	0	#566	8	11,342
HK	Girls	0	#571	45	16,104
IN	Girls	0	#600	32	13,121
IL	Girls	0	#601	17	11,648
AR	Girls	0	#629	2	8,289
BO	Girls	0	#647	5	9,488
SA	Girls	0	#671	265	25,931
SY		0	#672	57	11,684
ZA	Girls	0	#743	443	25,928
TR		0	#814	457	19,440
CL	Girls	0	#823	29	14,098
Germany	Girls	0	#829	10	4,949
United States	Girls	2024	#849	68	8,487
MY	Girls	0	#855	140	24,821
PE	Girls	0	#907	37	14,861
NL	Girls	0	#924	32	5,933
BR	Girls	0	#932	10	12,708
EG	Girls	0	#943	17	14,742
CO	Girls	0	#960	119	16,140
Spain	Girls	0	#960	24	5,561
MX	Girls	0	#1,159	25	17,781
IT	Girls	0	#1,363	84	9,415

James is popular in 99 countries — most recent births per country:

France

Norway

Ireland

Scotland, United Kingdom

Canada

Belgium

Flanders, Belgium

Wallonia, Belgium

England & Wales, United Kingdom

New South Wales, Australia

Brussels, Belgium

Switzerland

Sweden

United States

Germany

New York City (Asian & Pacific Islander), United States

New York City (Black, non-Hispanic), United States

New York City (Hispanic), United States

New York City (White, non-Hispanic), United States

New Zealand

Austria

Germany

Spain

Finland

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James as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of James

What is the meaning of the name James ?

James has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name James