James vs Shams

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 →

Shams

Girl #3,789 Most Popular 1 Syllable

Meaning

"sun, sunlight"

Origin: Arabic

Cultural Roots

Arabic Muslim Persian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#3,789
Total SSA Count
40
Syllables
1
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Sha, Shy, Shie

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Shams →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Shams Rank #3,789

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #3789 for Shams.

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

Shams ___

  • Shams Noor
  • Shams Layla
  • Shams Fatima
  • Shams Sara
  • Shams Aisha

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Shams

Noor Qamar Zara Omar Yasmine

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 Shams more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Shams at #3789 in the United States.

What do James and Shams mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Shams means "sun, sunlight" (Arabic origin).

Are James and Shams boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Shams is primarily a girl name.

More Comparisons

Shams vs James James vs Graham James vs Theo James vs Dylan James vs Kevin
← Full profile: James ← Full profile: Shams Browse all baby names