James vs Nils

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 →

Nils

Boy #4,894 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"victory of the people"

Origin: Greek (Nikolaos)

Cultural Roots

Swedish Norwegian Danish Finnish Germanic

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#4,894
Total SSA Count
20
Syllables
1
Formality
Moderate

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Nils →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Nils Rank #4,894

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #4894 for Nils.

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

Nils ___

  • Nils Erik
  • Nils Johan
  • Nils Lars
  • Nils Gustav
  • Nils Axel
  • Nils Henrik

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Nils

Astrid Ingrid Sigrid Lars Erik

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 Nils more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Nils at #4894 in the United States.

What do James and Nils mean?

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

Are James and Nils boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Nils is primarily a boy name.

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