James vs Roderick

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 →

Roderick

Boy #1,904 Most Popular 3 Syllables

Meaning

"famous ruler"

Origin: Germanic

Cultural Roots

English Scottish Welsh German

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,904
Total SSA Count
83
Syllables
3
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Rod, Rodi, Rick

Playground Safety Score

8 High Risk

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

Full profile for Roderick →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Roderick Rank #1,904

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #1904 for Roderick.

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

Roderick ___

  • Roderick James
  • Roderick Hugh
  • Roderick William
  • Roderick Charles
  • Roderick Alexander
  • Roderick Thomas

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Roderick

Edmund Sylvia Cornelius Beatrice Leopold

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 Roderick more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Roderick at #1904 in the United States.

What do James and Roderick mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Roderick means "famous ruler" (Germanic origin).

Are James and Roderick boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Roderick is primarily a boy name.

More Comparisons

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