Cavan vs James

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Cavan

Boy #4,288 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"little gentle one (variant of Kevin)"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish American British

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#4,288
Total SSA Count
25
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Cav

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Cavan →

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

Cavan Rank #4,288
James Rank #5

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #4288 for Cavan.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Cavan ___

  • Cavan James
  • Cavan Patrick
  • Cavan Finn
  • Cavan Liam
  • Cavan Declan
  • Cavan Sean

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 Cavan

Declan Finn Siobhan Maeve Conor

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 Cavan or James more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Cavan at #4288 in the United States.

What do Cavan and James mean?

Cavan means "little gentle one (variant of Kevin)" (Irish Gaelic origin). James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin).

Are Cavan and James boy or girl names?

Cavan is primarily a boy name. James is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

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