James vs Matei

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 →

Matei

Boy #5,302 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"gift of God, gift of Yahweh"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

Romanian Eastern European

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#5,302
Total SSA Count
18
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Mati, Matt

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Matei →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Matei Rank #5,302

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #5302 for Matei.

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

Matei ___

  • Matei Alexandru
  • Matei Andrei
  • Matei Ioan
  • Matei Mihai
  • Matei Radu
  • Matei Stefan

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Matei

Ana Andrei Elena Radu Sofia

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 Matei more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Matei at #5302 in the United States.

What do James and Matei mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Matei means "gift of God, gift of Yahweh" (Hebrew origin).

Are James and Matei boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Matei is primarily a boy name.

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