James vs Yosef

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 →

Yosef

Boy #612 Most Popular 2 Syllables

Meaning

"God will add, He shall increase"

Origin: Hebrew

Cultural Roots

Jewish Israeli Arabic Ethiopian

Quick Stats

Popularity Rank
#612
Total SSA Count
466
Syllables
2
Formality
Moderate
Nicknames
Yossi, Yosi, Sefi

Playground Safety Score

✓ All Clear
Full profile for Yosef →

Popularity Comparison

James Rank #5
Yosef Rank #612

James is more popular, ranked #5 vs #612 for Yosef.

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

Yosef ___

  • Yosef Aaron
  • Yosef David
  • Yosef Eliyahu
  • Yosef Chaim
  • Yosef Moshe
  • Yosef Tzvi

Sibling Name Ideas

Names that pair well as siblings.

If you choose James

Charlotte Olivia Emma William Henry

If you choose Yosef

Rivka Sarah Miriam Menachem Ari

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 Yosef more popular?

James is more popular, ranked #5 compared to Yosef at #612 in the United States.

What do James and Yosef mean?

James means "supplanter, one who follows at the heel" (Hebrew origin). Yosef means "God will add, He shall increase" (Hebrew origin).

Are James and Yosef boy or girl names?

James is primarily a boy name. Yosef is primarily a boy name.

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