Popularity overview
James in 2025, in four numbers — all from the SSA counts.
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James, state by state, 2025
James was published in 50 states and DC in 2025. Darker tiles are the states where it ranks highest. Tap a state to compare it with Texas.
- ALAlabama
- AKAlaska
- AZArizona
- ARArkansas
- CACalifornia
- COColorado
- CTConnecticut
- DEDelaware
- DCDistrict of Columbia
- FLFlorida
- GAGeorgia
- HIHawaii
- IDIdaho
- ILIllinois
- INIndiana
- IAIowa
- KSKansas
- KYKentucky
- LALouisiana
- MEMaine
- MDMaryland
- MAMassachusetts
- MIMichigan
- MNMinnesota
- MSMississippi
- MOMissouri
- MTMontana
- NENebraska
- NVNevada
- NHNew Hampshire
- NJNew Jersey
- NMNew Mexico
- NYNew York
- NCNorth Carolina
- NDNorth Dakota
- OHOhio
- OKOklahoma
- OROregon
- PAPennsylvania
- RIRhode Island
- SCSouth Carolina
- SDSouth Dakota
- TNTennessee
- TXTexas
- UTUtah
- VTVermont
- VAVirginia
- WAWashington
- WVWest Virginia
- WIWisconsin
- WYWyoming
James was published in 50 states and DC in 2025. James was published in every state and DC in 2025. Choose a coloured state to compare it with Texas.
Rank #1–300 Rank #301–800 Rank #801+ No published count
| Mississippi | #1 | 160 |
| Wyoming | #2 | 25 |
| Alabama | #3 | 292 |
| Louisiana | #3 | 187 |
| Tennessee | #4 | 385 |
| South Carolina | #4 | 250 |
| Connecticut | #4 | 156 |
| New Hampshire | #4 | 65 |
| Delaware | #4 | 37 |
| North Carolina | #5 | 471 |
| Georgia | #5 | 451 |
| Michigan | #5 | 342 |
| Massachusetts | #5 | 323 |
| Colorado | #5 | 256 |
| Alaska | #5 | 39 |
| Pennsylvania | #6 | 432 |
| Virginia | #6 | 368 |
| New Jersey | #6 | 350 |
| Indiana | #6 | 263 |
| Minnesota | #6 | 227 |
| Kansas | #6 | 141 |
| Arkansas | #6 | 131 |
| Montana | #6 | 44 |
| District of Columbia | #6 | 37 |
| Illinois | #7 | 406 |
| Iowa | #7 | 118 |
| Nebraska | #7 | 73 |
| Vermont | #7 | 21 |
| Florida | #8 | 672 |
| New York | #8 | 658 |
| Ohio | #8 | 403 |
| Washington | #8 | 251 |
| Missouri | #8 | 248 |
| Wisconsin | #8 | 199 |
| Maine | #8 | 43 |
| Kentucky | #9 | 181 |
| Maryland | #9 | 180 |
| Utah | #9 | 171 |
| Nevada | #9 | 92 |
| Idaho | #9 | 76 |
| North Dakota | #9 | 33 |
| Oklahoma | #10 | 133 |
| Oregon | #11 | 106 |
| West Virginia | #11 | 59 |
| Rhode Island | #11 | 36 |
| Texas | #12 | 1,057 |
| South Dakota | #13 | 32 |
| Hawaii | #18 | 26 |
| Arizona | #21 | 192 |
| California | #22 | 1,005 |
| New Mexico | #24 | 42 |
States with no published count are not listed with a number: SSA publishes a name only when at least 5 babies of one sex received it in that state in that year. James may have been given to 1–4 boys in those states, but the count is not published and is never guessed here.
James ranks highest in Mississippi: #1 in 2025, with 160 boys. The most Jamess were born in Texas: 1,057 boys in 2025, where it ranked #12.
How James has changed over time
National rank by year, 2010 to 2025. Lower is more popular.
The chart shows the name's national rank each year. Lower is more popular. Years with fewer than 5 births are left blank, because the SSA does not publish a count for them.
James first appeared in national SSA data in 1910. In 2024 it ranked #5 with 11,856 boys. In 2025 it fell 1 places to #6, with 11,945 boys. James has ranked in the national top 10 for boys every year since 2014.
Births per year, 2010–2025
How many boys were named James each year. Years with fewer than 5 births are not shown, because the SSA does not publish a count for them.
| Year | National rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #19 | 13,901 |
| 2011 | #17 | 13,275 |
| 2012 | #14 | 13,458 |
| 2013 | #13 | 13,596 |
| 2014 | #9 | 14,464 |
| 2015 | #7 | 14,865 |
| 2016 | #5 | 14,920 |
| 2017 | #4 | 14,362 |
| 2018 | #4 | 13,650 |
| 2019 | #6 | 13,198 |
| 2020 | #6 | 12,390 |
| 2021 | #5 | 12,474 |
| 2022 | #4 | 12,119 |
| 2023 | #4 | 11,739 |
| 2024 | #5 | 11,856 |
| 2025 | #6 | 11,945 |
50 years of James
National rank and births at five points in time — 50, 25, 10 and 5 years ago, and today.
| When | National rank | Births |
|---|---|---|
| 50 years ago (1975) | #4 | 39,569 |
| 25 years ago (2000) | #18 | 17,991 |
| 10 years ago (2015) | #7 | 14,865 |
| 5 years ago (2020) | #6 | 12,390 |
| Today (2025) | #6 | 11,945 |
In 1975 James ranked #4 nationally; by 2025 it had fallen to #6.
The James story so far
When it first appeared, when it broke into the top 100, and where it stands now — every step from the SSA counts.
- First appeared in national SSA data in 1910, with 9,191 boys.
- First entered the national top 1,000 in 1910.
- First entered the national top 100 in 1910.
- Highest rank so far: #1 in 1940.
- 116 years in the national top 100.
- Where it stands now: #6 in 2025, with 11,945 boys.
Names like James
Names ranked closest to James in 2025, and the names rising fastest alongside it.
Ranked closest to James in 2025
What this does not tell you
This page gives no meaning or origin for the name, because meaning data does not come from SSA. It also gives no middle-name or sibling suggestions: SSA does not publish middle names, and no dataset records sibling pairings.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, baby names data, births in 2025, released May 2026. Data checked 8 November 2026. ssa.gov baby names.