♂ Name James – may God protect
| Origin: | English, Old French, Hebrew |
|---|---|
| Meaning: | may God protect, holder of the heel, supplanter |
| Boy namesBoy names with JNamesNames with J | |
James is a classic biblical name with deep Hebrew roots and a long history in English and French usage. It is traditionally associated with the meanings “may God protect,” “holder of the heel,” and “supplanter.”
Where does the name James come from?
James is an English and Old French form of the biblical name Jacob, which is of Hebrew origin. The spelling of James is derived from the Latin variant Iacobus and the Late Latin form Iacomus.
What does the name James mean?
The meaning of James is “may God protect.” Besides, James means “holder of the heel” or “supplanter,” because he was born grasping the heel of his firstborn twin brother Esau and he bought his birthright to supplant him.
Word composition
- Hebrew “‘akév” (עָקֵב) = heel
- Hebrew “‘akáv” (עָקַב) = to follow, to supplant
Pronunciation of James
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Based on the frequency of positive ratings, we can analyze how popular names are in different countries. The name James is currently ranked #266 on the name leaderboard.
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James in the Top 50 names
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Last updated: 4/13/2026
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