James vs Nick

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 →

Nick

Boy #1,422 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"victory of the people"

Origin: Greek Nikolaos

Cultural Roots

English American Greek Australian European

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,422
Total SSA Count
130
Syllables
1
Formality
Casual

Playground Safety Score

44 High Risk

{:type=>:rhyme_pattern, :severity=>:low, :message=>"'Nick' ending sounds like 'sick/thick/dick'"}

Full profile for Nick →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Nick Rank #1,422

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #1422 for Nick.

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

Nick ___

  • Nick James
  • Nick Thomas
  • Nick Alexander
  • Nick Michael
  • Nick Ryan
  • Nick Andrew

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Nick

Mike Chris Matt Jake Steph

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 Nick more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Nick at #1422 in the United States.

What do James and Nick mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Nick means "victory of the people" (Greek Nikolaos origin).

Are James and Nick boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Nick is primarily a boy name.

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