James
5 countries#6 in United States, 2025Popularity across 5 countries
Each line is scaled to its own peak, so you can compare when James was in fashion in each country, whatever the population size.
Country by country
🇺🇸 United States
5,274,520 births recorded 1880–2025 · currently #6 · peaked in 1947 with 95,024 births
Most common in: New York, Pennsylvania, California, Texas, Ohio
Source: Social Security Administration, official birth-registration data
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
180,560 births recorded 1974–2025 · currently #8 · peaked in 1997 with 10,843 births (England & Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland combined)
Source: ONS, National Records of Scotland & NISRA (combined), official birth-registration data
🏴🏴 England & Wales
137,668 births recorded 1996–2021 · currently #30 · peaked in 1997 with 9,853 births
Source: Office for National Statistics, official birth-registration data
🏴 Scotland
35,631 births recorded 1974–2025 · currently #14 · peaked in 1974 with 1,202 births
Source: National Records of Scotland, official birth-registration data
🇫🇷 France
26,701 births recorded 1900–2022 · currently #185 · peaked in 2021 with 393 births
Most common in: Paris, Charente-Maritime, Charente, Nord, Marne
Source: INSEE, official birth-registration data
Northern Ireland
7,261 births recorded 1997–2025 · currently #3 · peaked in 1997 with 352 births
Source: NISRA, official birth-registration data
United States rank history
James’s rank among boys’ names, most recent 20 years on record.
| Year | Rank | vs. prior yr |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | #16 | — |
| 2007 | #15 | ↑1 |
| 2008 | #17 | ↓2 |
| 2009 | #18 | ↓1 |
| 2010 | #19 | ↓1 |
| 2011 | #17 | ↑2 |
| 2012 | #14 | ↑3 |
| 2013 | #13 | ↑1 |
| 2014 | #9 | ↑4 |
| 2015 | #7 | ↑2 |
| 2016 | #5 | ↑2 |
| 2017 | #4 | ↑1 |
| 2018 | #4 | — |
| 2019 | #6 | ↓2 |
| 2020 | #6 | — |
| 2021 | #5 | ↑1 |
| 2022 | #4 | ↑1 |
| 2023 | #4 | — |
| 2024 | #5 | ↓1 |
| 2025 | #6 | ↓1 |
Frequently asked questions about James
Is James a popular name?
Yes — James currently ranks #6 among boys’ names in United States as of 2025, based on official birth records.
Is James more common for boys or girls?
James is recorded predominantly as a boys’ name in official United States birth data.
When was James most popular?
James peaked in 1947 in United States, with 95,024 recorded births that year.
Is James rising or falling in popularity?
In United States, James’s popularity is falling — its rank has slipped from #3 in 1880 to #6 in 2025.
How many babies have been named James?
At least 5,481,781 babies have been recorded with the name James across official birth statistics in 5 countries.
Is James popular in more than one country?
Yes — James appears in official birth records in 5 countries: United States, England & Wales, Scotland, France, Northern Ireland.
What names are similar in popularity to James?
Based on real 2025 ranking data in United States, names ranked closest to James include Theodore, Henry, Elijah, Mateo.
Similar names right now
Ranked directly next to James in United States, 2025 — a real popularity match, not a subjective list.