Boy name
James name meaning
“heel-holder; one who follows”
James means “heel-holder” or “one who follows” in the traditional meaning inherited from Hebrew Yaakov. The English name developed through Latin Iacomus. Used as a masculine name in Türkiye, it shares its origin with Jacob and has historical associations with the kings of Scotland.
- Gender
- ♂ Boy
- Origin
- European languages
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity
- #2,867
What does James mean?
Heel-holder; one who follows
In Turkish: topuğu tutan; ardından gelen
James and Jacob developed from the same historical name despite their different appearances. Turkish Yakup belongs to this family as well. Historical literary associations include the novelist Henry James, while Jamie and Jim developed as familiar forms of the name.
Origin of the name James
James is an English name descending through Latin Iacomus from Hebrew Yaakov. Its traditional heel-related interpretation comes from the same birth narrative associated with Jacob and Yakup.
| Linguistic origin | European languages, Hebrew |
|---|---|
| Is James in the Quran? | No |
| Starts with | J · Ja |
How to pronounce James
| Syllables | 2 · 5 letters · 5-letter boy names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /ʒames/ |
Is James a boy’s name?
Yes, James is used mostly as a boy’s name. See all boy names.
James does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like James
Famous people named James
- James Gist · b. 1986
FAQ about the name James
What is the meaning of James?
James means “heel-holder; one who follows”. James is an English name descending through Latin Iacomus from Hebrew Yaakov. Its traditional heel-related interpretation comes from the same birth narrative associated with Jacob and Yakup.
Is James a boy’s name?
Yes, James is used mostly as a boy’s name.
Is James in the Quran?
No. Neither the name James nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name James?
James is of European languages and Hebrew origin.
How many syllables does James have?
James has 2 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name James?
James does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Famous people named James?
Notable people named James include James Gist.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm11570 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake