Samuel vs James

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Samuel

Boy #17 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"name of God"

Origin: Hebrew

English Jewish Christian American French

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Boy #5 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"

Origin: Hebrew

English Scottish Biblical

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Samuel Rank #17

James Rank #5

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #17 for Samuel.

Is Samuel or James more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Samuel at #17 in the United States.

What do Samuel and James mean?

Samuel means "name of God" (Hebrew origin). James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin).

Are Samuel and James boy or girl names?

Samuel is primarily a boy name. James is primarily a boy name.