James vs Karthikeya

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
Full profile for James →

Karthikeya

Boy #5,222 Most Popular 5 Syllables

Meaning

"son of Kartikey, the god of war"

Origin: Sanskrit

Cultural Roots

Indian Hindu Tamil Telugu Malayalam

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5,222
Total SSA Count
19
Syllables
5
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Karthi, Karthik, Kay

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Karthikeya →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Karthikeya Rank #5,222

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #5222 for Karthikeya.

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

Karthikeya ___

No pairings available yet.

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Karthikeya

Ganesha Lakshmi Parvati Subramanian Vishnu

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 Karthikeya more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Karthikeya at #5222 in the United States.

What do James and Karthikeya mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Karthikeya means "son of Kartikey, the god of war" (Sanskrit origin).

Are James and Karthikeya boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Karthikeya is primarily a boy name.

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