Grady vs James

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Grady

Boy #371 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"noble, illustrious"

Origin: Irish Gaelic

Cultural Roots

Irish American Australian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#371
Total SSA Count
882
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Gray, Grade

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Grady →

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

Grady Rank #371
James Rank #5

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #371 for Grady.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Grady ___

  • Grady James
  • Grady Lee
  • Grady Scott
  • Grady Allen
  • Grady Thomas
  • Grady Patrick

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 Grady

Brady Cody Hadley Finley Riley

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 Grady or James more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Grady at #371 in the United States.

What do Grady and James mean?

Grady means "noble, illustrious" (Irish Gaelic origin). James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin).

Are Grady and James boy or girl names?

Grady is primarily a boy name. James is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

James vs Grady Grady vs Tristan Grady vs Uriel Grady vs Louis Grady vs Judah
← Full profile: Grady ← Full profile: James Browse all baby names