"supplanter, one who follows"
Jamie
Pronunciation: [ j-AYM-ee ]
The friendly Scottish classic that belongs to everyone
Meaning & Origin
"beloved (folk etymology)"
The Story of Jamie
Jamie is a Scottish/English diminutive of James, which derives from the Hebrew name Yaakov (Jacob), meaning supplanter or one who follows at the heel. The name James itself came to English via Latin Jacobus and Old French Jaime. Jamie began as a Scottish nickname for James before evolving into an independent given name used for both boys and girls.
Jamie surged as a girls name in the 1970s-1990s as gender-neutral names became fashionable. The character Jamie Sommers in The Bionic Woman (1976) helped establish it as feminine. More recently, Jamie Fraser from Outlander (2014-) has made it feel simultaneously masculine and gender-fluid.
In Scotland, Jamie has been a beloved pet form of James since medieval times. As a womens name, it represents the late 20th-century trend of embracing traditionally male names for girls — a trend that continues today.
Fun Facts
- Jamie Lee Curtis has carried the name to multiple generations of fans through horror and comedy films
- Jamie is one of fewer than 50 names used equally for boys and girls in the United States
- The name appears in multiple Outlander novels and the TV series, giving it renewed romantic associations
Jamie in Other Languages
Famous People Named Jamie
Jamie Oliver
Other
1975
British celebrity chef and food activist known for making cooking accessible worldwide
Jamie Lee Curtis
Actor
1958
Academy Award-winning American actress known for Halloween, True Lies, and Everything Everywhere All at Once
Jamie Fraser Fictional
Other
Fictional Scottish Highland warrior from Diana Gabaldons Outlander series, one of romance fictions most beloved heroes
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #717
- Total SSA Count
- 391
- Cultural Origins
- English Scottish Irish American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Casual
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Jamie is also used as a boy name, ranked #625.
View Jamie as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Jamie
What does the name Jamie mean?
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About the Name Jamie
Jamie is a girl name with English, Scottish, Irish, and American origins . The name means "supplanter, one who follows" in Hebrew Yaakov via James .
Is Jamie a boy or girl name? Jamie is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #717 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #625. Jamie is more commonly used as a boy name.
Jamie is currently ranked #717 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Jamie has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-AYM-ee, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Jamie include Jay and Jae. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Jamie include Jamila, Jamiyah, Jamilah, Jamia, Jamiah . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.