James Name Meaning, Origin & Gender

James Name at a Glance

Name	James
Meaning	Variant of Jacob: He grasps the heel. Supplanter.
Origin	Hebrew
Gender	Boy

What Does the Name James Mean?

According to the information recorded in our baby name database, James means “Variant of Jacob: He grasps the heel. Supplanter”. Name meanings can vary between languages, regions and naming traditions, so families may also wish to confirm a meaning within the cultural or linguistic context that matters to them.

James Name Origin

Our database records James under Hebrew origin. Browse more Hebrew baby names to compare other names in the same origin collection.

Is James a Boy or Girl Name?

In our database, James is listed as a boy name. Usage can differ across countries, languages and families.

Choosing the Name James

When considering James for a baby, you may want to compare its recorded meaning and origin with family traditions, pronunciation, spelling, initials, middle names and how the full name sounds with the family name.