James vs Sami

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 →

Sami

Boy #1,261 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"elevated, sublime, high"

Origin: Arabic

Cultural Roots

Arabic Middle Eastern Finnish Scandinavian Muslim

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,261
Total SSA Count
156
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Sam

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Sami →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Sami Rank #1,261

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #1261 for Sami.

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

Sami ___

  • Sami Ali
  • Sami Hassan
  • Sami Malik
  • Sami Ibrahim
  • Sami Yusuf
  • Sami Kareem

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Sami

Omar Layla Kareem Nadia Rami

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 Sami more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Sami at #1261 in the United States.

What do James and Sami mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Sami means "elevated, sublime, high" (Arabic origin).

Are James and Sami boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Sami is primarily a boy name.

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