Girl & boy name
James
As of 2025, James ranks #6 among American boys' names, according to Social Security records. 11,945 boys received the name that year. Its position has barely moved over the past five years — a sign of steady, established appeal. SSA records for James go back to 1880; the peak came in 1940 at #1, with 62,481 babies named that year. Geographically, it's strongest in Mississippi, where it ranks #1 among boy names.
Rankings
James popularity, 1880–2025
Where James is most popular
Uniqueness score
You'll meet plenty of them — a true chart-topper. Based on how many babies per birth were named James in the most recent year of SSA data.
Similar names
James as a girl name
James is currently the #2859 girl name in the United States, based on 2025 Social Security data. In raw numbers: 59 babies. It has drifted down the charts over the past five years, from #2580 to #2859. Looking at the full record since 1880, James hit its all-time high of #319 in 1928, when 427 girls were given the name. State by state, New York leads the way at #1830.