James vs Yakov

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 →

Yakov

Boy #1,227 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"one who supplants, heel-grabber"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

Jewish Russian Eastern European Israeli

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#1,227
Total SSA Count
164
Syllables
2
Formality
Formal
Nicknames
Yasha, Yako

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Yakov →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Yakov Rank #1,227

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #1227 for Yakov.

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

Yakov ___

  • Yakov Moshe
  • Yakov Eliyahu
  • Yakov Dovid
  • Yakov Shmuel
  • Yakov Noam
  • Yakov Uri

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Yakov

Rivka Leah Miriam Shmuel Nachum

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 Yakov more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Yakov at #1227 in the United States.

What do James and Yakov mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Yakov means "one who supplants, heel-grabber" (Hebrew origin).

Are James and Yakov boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Yakov is primarily a boy name.

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