Ilya vs James

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ilya

Boy #3,661 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"my God is Yahweh"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

Russian Slavic Jewish Hebrew

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#3,661
Total SSA Count
31
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Ilyusha, Il

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Ilya →

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

Ilya Rank #3,661
James Rank #5

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #3661 for Ilya.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

Ilya ___

  • Ilya Alexander
  • Ilya Nikolai
  • Ilya James
  • Ilya Dmitri
  • Ilya Theodore
  • Ilya Felix

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 Ilya

Natasha Sasha Dmitri Vera Pavel

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 Ilya or James more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Ilya at #3661 in the United States.

What do Ilya and James mean?

Ilya means "my God is Yahweh" (Hebrew origin). James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin).

Are Ilya and James boy or girl names?

Ilya is primarily a boy name. James is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

James vs Ilya Ilya vs Macsen Ilya vs Elior Ilya vs Tytan Ilya vs Erin
← Full profile: Ilya ← Full profile: James Browse all baby names