James vs Yahya

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 →

Yahya

Boy #706 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"God is gracious"

Origin: Hebrew via Arabic

Cultural Roots

Islamic Arabic Turkish African

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#706
Total SSA Count
378
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Yaya

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Yahya →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Yahya Rank #706

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #706 for Yahya.

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

Yahya ___

  • Yahya Abdul
  • Yahya Mohammed
  • Yahya Ibrahim
  • Yahya Khalid
  • Yahya Tariq
  • Yahya Hassan

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Yahya

Musa Ibrahim Maryam Fatima Dawud

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 Yahya more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Yahya at #706 in the United States.

What do James and Yahya mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Yahya means "God is gracious" (Hebrew via Arabic origin).

Are James and Yahya boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Yahya is primarily a boy name.

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