James vs Shari

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 →

Shari

Boy #19,249 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"divine law, path to the watering hole"

Origin: Arabic Sharia

Cultural Roots

American South Asian Middle Eastern

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#19,249
Total SSA Count
6
Syllables
2
Formality
Casual
Nicknames
Sha

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Shari →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Shari Rank #19,249

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #19249 for Shari.

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

Shari ___

  • Shari Ali
  • Shari Khan
  • Shari Raj
  • Shari James
  • Shari Lee

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Shari

Rashid Tariq Indira Priya Aryan

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 Shari more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Shari at #19249 in the United States.

What do James and Shari mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Shari means "divine law, path to the watering hole" (Arabic Sharia origin).

Are James and Shari boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Shari is primarily a boy name.

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