An vs James

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

An

Boy #4,327 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"peace, tranquility"

Origin: Vietnamese/Chinese

Cultural Roots

Vietnamese Chinese Korean

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#4,327
Total SSA Count
24
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for An →

James

Boy #5 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"supplanter, one who follows at the heel"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

English Scottish Biblical

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5
Total SSA Count
11,793
Syllables
1
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Jim, Jimmy, Jamie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for James →

Popularity Comparison

An Rank #4,327
James Rank #5

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #4327 for An.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

An ___

  • An Joseph
  • An Michael
  • An David
  • An James
  • An Lee

James ___

  • James Alexander
  • James William
  • James Thomas
  • James Edward
  • James Henry
  • James Patrick

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose An

Linh Bao Nam Mai Minh

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

Which Name Fits Your Family?

Answer 3 quick questions and we'll help you decide.

1. Which style feels more like your family?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is An or James more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to An at #4327 in the United States.

What do An and James mean?

An means "peace, tranquility" (Vietnamese/Chinese origin). James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin).

Are An and James boy or girl names?

An is primarily a boy name. James is primarily a boy name.

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← Full profile: An ← Full profile: James Browse all baby names