James is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 5,274,520 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 141,323 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 51,701 births |
Counts come from national birth registrations: the U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (ONS) and Ireland (CSO). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named James per year — United States (1880–2025). United States peaked in 1947 (95,024/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1997 (9,853/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1964 (1,554/yr).
James reached its peak in 1947, when it was the #2 most popular baby name in the United States — making it a quintessential 1940s name.
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