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How Many People Are Named James?
Estimated people named James living in the U.S. today
3,063,644
Gender distribution
100% male · 0% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 5,262,396
- Peak year: 1947 (95,020 births)
- Estimated living today: 3,063,644
James by age group — who carries the name today?
James popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name James
James has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 5,262,396 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 3,063,644 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 112 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Jamess you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named James in the US?
An estimated 3,063,644 people named James are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes James very common — about 1 in 112 Americans.
Is James a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, James is 100% male and 0% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was James most popular?
James peaked in 1947, when 95,020 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name James?
James ranks #2 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 24 out of 100 (higher means rarer).