James (given name)

James is an English language given name that is a derivative of the name Jacob, most commonly used for males.

Etymology

James is a modern descendant of the Hebrew name Ya'akov (original ), in English: Jacob. The Hebrew name went successively through the Latin form Iacobus, its derivative Vulgar Latin version Iacomus (cf. Italian Giacomo, Portuguese Tiago or Thiago (in ancient spelling although still used as a first name), and Spanish Iago, Santiago), and finally the Old French James. The final -s in the English first names is typical of those borrowed from Old French, where it was the former masculine subject case (cf. Jules, Miles, Charles, etc.).

Forms of James

Abbreviations

Jas. (English)

Diminutives

Variants in English and various other languages

Afrikaans: Jakobus, Koos (diminutive), Kobus (diminutive), Jakko (diminutive)
Albanian: Jakup, Jakub, Jakob or Jakov
Alemannic: KÃÂ¶bi, ChÃÂ¶bi, Joggel, Jakobli (diminutive), Joggeli (diminutive), Joggi
Amharic: Ã¡ÂÂ«Ã¡ÂÂÃ¡ÂÂÃ¡ÂÂ¥ (YaÃ¢ÂÂÃÂqob)
Arabic: (YaÃÂ»qub)
Aragonese: Chaime, Chacobo
Armenian: ÃÂÃÂ¡ÃÂ¯ÃÂ¸ÃÂ¢ in classical orthography and ÃÂÃÂ¡ÃÂ¯ÃÂ¸ÃÂ¢ in reformed orthography (Western: Hagop, Eastern: Hakob)
Asturian: Diegu, Xacobu, Xaime
Azerbaijani: Yaqub
Basque: Jakue, Jakob, Jakobe, Jagoba, Jaime, Jakes; Jakoba, Jagobe (feminized); Jago (diminutive)
Bavarian: Jackl, Jock, Jocke, Jockei
Belarusian: Jakub, ÃÂ¯ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ± (Yakub), JakaÃÂ, ÃÂ¯ÃÂºÃÂ°ÃÂ (Yakaw)
Bengali: Ã Â¦ÂÃ Â§ÂÃ Â¦Â®Ã Â¦Â¸ (JÃÂms/JÃÂmsh), Ã Â¦ÂÃ Â¦Â¯Ã Â¦Â¼Ã Â¦Â¾Ã Â¦ÂÃ Â§ÂÃ Â¦Â¬ (Iyakub)
Biblical Hebrew: Yaakov (ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂ§ÃÂ)
Bosnian: Jakub, Jakup, Jakov
Breton: Jagu, Jagut, Jacut, Jak, Jakes, Jakez, Jakezig, Jakou, Jalm, Chalm
Bulgarian: ÃÂ¯ÃÂºÃÂ¾ÃÂ² (Yakov)
Cantonese Ã¥ÂÂ Ã¥Â£Â« (Jeem-see)
Catalan: Jaume, Jacme, Jacob, DÃÂdac
Cherokee (Tsalagi): Ã¡ÂÂ¥Ã¡ÂÂ» (Tsi-mi)
Chinese: Ã¨Â©Â¹Ã¥Â§ÂÃ¦ÂÂ¯ (ZhÃÂnmÃÂsÃÂ«), Ã¨Â©Â¹Ã¥Â§ÂÃ¥Â£Â« (ZhÃÂnmÃÂshÃÂ¬)
Cornish: Jago, Jammes, Jamma, Jamys
Croatian: Jakov, Jakob, JakÃÂ¡a
Czech: Jakub, Jakoubek (diminutive), Kuba (diminutive), KubÃÂk (diminutive), KubÃÂÃÂek (diminutive), Kubas (informal, uncommon), Kubi (informal), Kubsik (informal, uncommon)
Danish: Ib, Jacob, Jakob, Jeppe, Jim, Jimmy
Dutch: Jacob, Jacobus, Jakob, Jaco, Jacco, Cobus, Coos, Jaap, Kobe, Kobus, Koos, Sjaak, Sjakie
English:
Jack
Jacob Jacobson Jacobs
Jakob (uncommon, by way of German, Yiddish, etc.)
Jacoby Jacobie (rare, chiefly American, and originally a surname)
Jake, Jakey, Jaky, Jakie, (diminutive)
Coby/Koby/Cobie/Kobie (diminutive, uncommon, chiefly American)
Jamison Jamieson
Jamesy Jamesie Jamesey
Jem (diminutive, also taken as a diminutive for Jeremiah, Jeremy or Jemma)
Jacqueline/Jaqueline (feminized, by way of French)
Jacquie/Jaqui/Jaquy (feminized diminutive), Jackie (feminized diminutive, chiefly American), Jacky (feminized diminutive)
Jamie/Jamey/Jami/Jamy/Jamiey/ (feminized)
Jamesina, Jamesa (feminine form)
Esperanto: Jakobo
Estonian: Jakob, Jaakob, Jaagup, Jaak
Faroese: JÃÂ¡kup, Jakku (only in double names such as JÃÂ³an Jakku, Hans Jakku. Previously spelled Jacob/Jakob)
Filipino: Jaime, JacÃÂ³b, Santiago (religious usage)
Finnish: Jaakob, Jaakoppi, Jaakko, Jaska, Jimi, Jouppi (archaic, nowadays only as a surname), Kauppi (archaic, nowadays only as a surname)
French: Jacques, Jacqueline (feminized), James, Jammes, Jacob, Jacquot (diminutive), Jacot (diminutive), Jacotte (feminized), Jaco (diminutive), Jack (diminutive), Jacky (diminutive), Jacq (diminutive), Jacquy (diminutive)
Frisian: Japik
Friulian: Jacum
Galician: Xaime, Iago, Diego, Xacobe, XÃÂ¡come
Georgian: Ã¡ÂÂÃ¡ÂÂÃ¡ÂÂÃ¡ÂÂÃ¡ÂÂ (Iakob), Ã¡ÂÂÃ¡ÂÂÃ¡ÂÂÃ¡ÂÂ (Koba)
German: Jakob, Jakobus, Jeckel (diminutive), JÃÂ¤ckel (diminutive), KÃÂ¶bes (diminutive), KÃÂ¶bi (Swiss German diminutive)
Greek:
ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ² (Iakov, in the Septuagint)
ÃÂÃÂ¬ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ²ÃÂ¿ÃÂ (Iakovos, New Testament)
ÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂ±ÃÂºÃÂ¿ÃÂÃÂ¼ÃÂ®ÃÂ (Yakoumis, colloquial, possibly also from ÃÂÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂºÃÂµÃÂ¯ÃÂ¼ (Joachim))
ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ²ÃÂ¯ÃÂ½ÃÂ± (Iakovina, feminized)
ÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂ¬ÃÂ³ÃÂºÃÂ¿ÃÂ (Yangos, probably through Slavic languages)
ÃÂÃÂ¬ÃÂºÃÂ·ÃÂ or ÃÂÃÂ±ÃÂº (Zakis or Zak, French-sounding)
Hawaiian: Kimo, Iakobo, Iakopo
Hebrew: Jacob and James are two separate, yet related names.
Jacob is ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂ§ÃÂ (Ya'aqov or Yakov), with its diminutives:
ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂÃÂ (Kobi)
ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂ§ÃÂ (Jecky : from Jacky)
ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂ§ (Zhack from French pronunciation of Jacques)
ÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ (Yaki)
ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ³ÃÂ/ÃÂÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂ (Yankalleh/Yankee - through Yiddish).
James is transliterated as ÃÂÃÂµÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¡/ÃÂÃÂ´ÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂÃÂ/ÃÂÃÂ´ÃÂ³ÃÂÃÂ/ (James/Jimmy/Jim from English).
The Spanish name Jaime for James is pronounced in Spanish like the Israeli pronunciation of ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ (Haim or Chaim pronounced Kha-yim and meaning life). Diminutives of Chaim are:
ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ Chayimee (from Yiddish or Spanish Jaime)
ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ³ÃÂ/ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂ (Chaikel/Chayimke from Yiddish)
Hindi: Ã Â¤ÂÃ Â¥ÂÃ Â¤Â®Ã Â¥ÂÃ Â¤Â¸ (JÃÂmsa)
Hungarian: Jakab, JÃÂ¡kob
Icelandic: Jakob
Igbo Jems, James, JekÃ¡Â»Âb
Indonesian: Yakobus, Yakubus, James
Irish: SÃÂ©amas/SÃÂ©amus, ShÃÂ©amais (vocative, SÃÂ©imÃÂ (diminutive), SÃÂ©imÃÂn (diminutive), SÃÂ©amuisÃÂn (diminutive), IacÃÂ³b
Italian: Giacomo, Iacopo or Jacopo, Giacobbe, Giacomino, Giaco, Giamo, Mino
Japanese: Ã£ÂÂ¸Ã£ÂÂ§Ã£ÂÂ¼Ã£ÂÂ Ã£ÂÂ¹ (JÃÂmusu)
Jerriais: Jimce
Kannada: Ã Â²ÂÃ Â³ÂÃ Â²Â®Ã Â³ÂÃ Â²Â¸Ã Â³Â (JÃÂms)
Kazakh: ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¿ (Zhaqip, Jacob), ÃÂ¯ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ± (Yakub, Yacoob)
Kyrgyz: ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ¿ (JaqÃÂ±p, Jacob), ÃÂ¯ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ¿ (YaqÃÂ±p), ÃÂ¯ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ¿ (Yakup), ÃÂ¯ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ± (Yakub, Yacoob), ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂ¸ÃÂ¼ (Qaim, Chaim), ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂ¼ (QayÃÂ±m, Chaim)
Kikuyu: Jemuthi, Jemethi, Jimmi, Jakubu (Pronounced "Jakufu")
Korean: Ã¬Â ÂÃ¬ÂÂÃ¬ÂÂ¤ (Jeimseu), Ã¬ÂÂ¼ÃªÂ³Â Ã«Â³Â´ (Yakobo)
Kurdish (Sorani):
Late Roman: Iacomus
Latin: Iacobus, Iacomus (vulgarized), Didacus (later Latin)
Latvian: JÃÂkabs, JÃÂkubs, Jakobs
Limburgish: Jakob, Sjaak, Sjak, Keube
Lithuanian: JokÃÂ«bas
Lombard: Giacom, Giacum, Jacom
Low German: Jak, Jakob, KÃÂ¶ÃÂ¶b, KÃÂ¶pke
Luxembourgish: Jakob, Jak, Jeek, Jeki
Macedonian: ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂºÃÂ¾ÃÂ² (Yakov)
Malay: ÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¨ (Ya'qub), Ya'kub, Yakub
Malayalam: Chacko, Jacob, Yakkob (pronounced Yah-kohb)
Maltese: ÃÂ akbu, ÃÂ akmu, Jakbu
Manx: Jamys
MÃÂori: Hemi
Northern Sami: JÃÂ¡hkot
Norwegian: Jakob, Jakop, Jeppe
Occitan: Jacme (pronounced Jamme), Jaume, Jammes (surname, pronounced Jamme), James (surname, pronounced Jamme)
Persian: (YaÃÂ»qub)
Piedmontese: Giaco, Jaco (Montferrat dialect); diminutive: Giacolin, GiacolÃÂ¨t, Jacolin
Polish: Jakub, Kuba (diminutive), KubuÃÂ (diminutive endearing)
Portuguese: JacÃÂ³ (O.T. form), Jacob, Jaime, Iago, Tiago (contracted form used in the N.T.), Thiago and Thyago (variant used in Brazil), Diogo, Diego, Santiago, Jaqueline (fem.)
ProvenÃÂ§al: Jacme
Punjabi: Ã Â¨ÂÃ Â©ÂÃ Â¨Â®Ã Â¨Â¸ (JÃÂmasa)
Romanian: Iacob, Iacov
Romansh: Giachen, Giacun
Russian: ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂºÃÂ¾ÃÂ² (Iakov) (archaic O.T. form), ÃÂ¯ÃÂºÃÂ¾ÃÂ² (Yakov, Iakov), ÃÂ¯ÃÂÃÂ° (Yasha) (diminutive)
Samoan: Iakopo, Semisi, Simi (Jim)
Sardinian: Giagu (Logudorese), Iacu (Nuorese)
Scots: Jeams, Jeames, Jamie, Jizer, Jamesie
Scottish Gaelic: Seumas, Sheumais (vocative), Hamish (anglicized)
Serbian (Cyrillic/Latinic): ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂºÃÂ¾ÃÂ²/Jakov (Yakov); ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ°/JakÃÂ¡a (Yaksha); ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂÃÂ°/JaÃÂ¡a (Yasha) (diminutive)
Sicilian: Giacumu, JÃÂ cumu
Sinhala: Ã Â¶Â¯Ã Â·ÂÃ Â¶ÂºÃ Â·ÂÃ Â¶ÂÃ Â·Â (Diogu), Ã Â¶Â¢Ã Â·ÂÃ Â¶ÂÃ Â·ÂÃ Â¶Â¶Ã Â·Â (Jakob), Ã Â·ÂÃ Â¶Â±Ã Â·ÂÃ Â¶ÂÃ Â·ÂÃ Â¶ÂºÃ Â·ÂÃ Â¶ÂÃ Â·Â (Santhiyago), Ã Â¶ÂºÃ Â·ÂÃ Â¶ÂÃ Â·ÂÃ Â¶Â¶Ã Â·Â (Yakob)
Slovak: Jakub, Kubo, Kubko (diminutive), Jakubko (diminutive)
Slovene: Jakob, Jaka
Somali: Yacquub
Spanish: Jaime, Jacobo, Yago, Tiago, Santiago, Diego, Jacoba (fem.), Jacob
Swahili: Yakobo
Swedish: Jakob
Sylheti: Ã Â¦Â¯Ã Â¦Â¼Ã Â¦Â¾Ã Â¦ÂÃ Â§ÂÃ Â¦Â¬ (Yakub)
Syriac: ÃÂÃÂ°ÃÂ¥ÃÂ©ÃÂ½ÃÂÃÂ (Yaqub)
Tamil: Ã Â®ÂÃ Â¯ÂÃ Â®Â®Ã Â¯ÂÃ Â®Â¸Ã Â¯Â (JÃÂms)
Telugu: Ã Â°Â¯Ã Â°Â¾Ã Â°ÂÃ Â±ÂÃ Â°Â¬Ã Â±Â (YÃÂkÃÂ´bu) Ã Â°ÂÃ Â±ÂÃ Â°Â®Ã Â±ÂÃ Â°Â¸Ã Â±Â (JÃÂms)
(Jame, CemsÃÂÃÂ)
Turkish: Yakup, Yakub
Ukrainian: ÃÂ¯ÃÂºÃÂÃÂ² (Yakiv)
Urdu: ÃÂ¬ÃÂÃÂÃÂ² (James), ÃÂÃÂ¹ÃÂÃÂÃÂ¨ (Yaqoob)
Venetian: JÃÂ como, JÃÂ co
Walloon: DjÃÂ¥ke
Welsh: Iago, SiÃÂ¢ms
Yiddish: ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂ§ÃÂ (Yankev/Yankiff), ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¤ÃÂ¢ÃÂ/ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ¤ÃÂ¤ÃÂ (Kappel/Koppel), ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂ/ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ (Yankel/Yankelleh), ÃÂÃÂ¢ÃÂ ÃÂ§ÃÂ (Yankee), ÃÂÃÂÃÂ§ÃÂÃÂ (Yakab - from Romanian Iacob), and the Gentile name not associated with Jacob: ÃÂÃÂÃÂ©ÃÂ¢ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ¡ (James)
Yoruba JÃÂ¡kÃÂ³ÃÂ©bÃÂ¹, Jakobu
Zulu: Jakobe

Popularity

James is one of the most common male names in the English-speaking world. In the United States, James was one of the five most common given names for male babies for most of the 20th century. Its popularity peaked during the Baby Boom (Census records 1940Ã¢ÂÂ1960), when it was the most popular name for baby boys. Its popularity has declined considerably over the past 30 years, but it still remains one of the 20 most common names for boys.

In Northern Ireland, the name has appeared among the 10 most popular for the last quarter of the 20th century and into the 21st. In 2013, James was the eighth most popular name for boys in Australia.

James is the second most common first name for living individuals in the United States, belonging to roughly 3.4 million people in the United States as of 2021, according to the Social Security Administration.

In 2022, in the United States, the name James was given to 12,028 boys, ranking it as the fourth most popular name.

In 2022, it was the 11th most popular name given to boys in Canada.

References

External links