How Many People Are Named James?
Complete statistics for the name James: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
James, derived from the Hebrew name Ya'akov, means 'he who supplants', and it's surprisingly common, with 1 in 112 Americans bearing this name. That's over 2.9 million people in the US alone! Interestingly, most Jameses are over 60, making it a name that evokes an older generation.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, life path number 3 represents creativity, self-expression, and communication.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 71All 5,256,447 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1947Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 James Through the Generations
James has been a stalwart in American naming trends, ranking among the top ten for an impressive 110 years. Its peak popularity came in 1947 when nearly 95,000 babies were named James, reflecting the post-war baby boom era. Today, while its usage is slowly declining, James remains a classic choice, with a significant portion of those named still active in their sixties and beyond, totaling over 3.5 million individuals over sixty years old.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named James
James is an English language given name that is a derivative of the name Jacob, most commonly used for males.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing James's Hebrew roots
📄 About the Name James
How Many People Have the Name James?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 243,502 people in the United States currently share the name James. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,361 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.
Is James a Common or Rare Name?
James is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name James Mean?
James means "he who supplants" and comes from Hebrew origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 3.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of James in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was James Most Popular?
The name James reached peak popularity in 1947, with 95,020 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named James?
Approximately 243,502 people named James live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 243,502. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,361 Americans.
Is James a rare name?
James is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,361 Americans has this name.
What does the name James mean?
James means "he who supplants" and comes from Hebrew origins.
Is James more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named James are male and 0% are female.
When was James most popular?
James peaked in 1947 with 95,020 births that year. Current trend: Slowly declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.