James vs Karthik

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

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
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Karthik

Boy #5,386 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"born in the month of Kartik"

Origin: Sanskrit

Cultural Roots

Indian Tamil Telugu Kannada Malayalam

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5,386
Total SSA Count
18
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Karthi, KK

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Karthik →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Karthik Rank #5,386

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #5386 for Karthik.

Popularity Over Time

Historical US popularity rank — lower number means more popular.

Middle Name Pairings

James ___

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

Karthik ___

  • Karthik Raj
  • Karthik Kumar
  • Karthik Suresh
  • Karthik Arun
  • Karthik Vikram
  • Karthik Rajan

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Karthik

Deepa Priya Arun Suresh Kavitha

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 James or Karthik more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Karthik at #5386 in the United States.

What do James and Karthik mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Karthik means "born in the month of Kartik" (Sanskrit origin).

Are James and Karthik boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Karthik is primarily a boy name.

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