James Name Popularity and Statistics
James is Predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
Meaning, origin, and pronunciation details are shown only after they have been independently reviewed.
Most Recent Year on Record2025
Total Recorded U.S. Births5,274,520
First Year on Record1880
James popularity by year
| Year | Usage category | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 59 | #2,859 |
| 2025 | Boys | 11,945 | #6 |
| 2024 | Girls | 68 | #2,585 |
| 2024 | Boys | 11,856 | #5 |
| 2023 | Girls | 79 | #2,314 |
| 2023 | Boys | 11,739 | #4 |
| 2022 | Girls | 85 | #2,208 |
| 2022 | Boys | 12,119 | #4 |
| 2021 | Girls | 68 | #2,558 |
| 2021 | Boys | 12,474 | #5 |
| 2020 | Girls | 66 | #2,580 |
| 2020 | Boys | 12,390 | #6 |
| 2019 | Girls | 68 | #2,561 |
| 2019 | Boys | 13,198 | #6 |
| 2018 | Girls | 45 | #3,438 |
| 2018 | Boys | 13,650 | #4 |
| 2017 | Girls | 77 | #2,357 |
| 2017 | Boys | 14,362 | #4 |
| 2016 | Girls | 67 | #2,617 |
| 2016 | Boys | 14,920 | #5 |
| 2015 | Girls | 39 | #3,842 |
| 2015 | Boys | 14,865 | #7 |
| 2014 | Girls | 42 | #3,652 |
| 2014 | Boys | 14,464 | #9 |
Ranks compare names only within the same year and source category. Birth totals are historical records, not an exact count of living people.
Peak recorded years
1947 · Boys
94,767 recorded births and rank #1.
1948 · Boys
88,605 recorded births and rank #1.
1946 · Boys
87,438 recorded births and rank #1.
1951 · Boys
87,256 recorded births and rank #1.
Where James ranked highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Highest state rankings for Boys
- MS
- Rank #1 · 160 recorded births
- WY
- Rank #2 · 25 recorded births
- AL
- Rank #3 · 292 recorded births
- LA
- Rank #3 · 187 recorded births
- TN
- Rank #4 · 385 recorded births
- SC
- Rank #4 · 250 recorded births
- CT
- Rank #4 · 156 recorded births
- NH
- Rank #4 · 65 recorded births