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FriApr 11

National James Day – April 11, 2025

National James Day is celebrated on April 11 every year. It is a day dedicated to honoring all James’ and their great contributions to the world. James is a common name that has been in use for some time now. Interestingly, the name ‘James’ comes from the Hebrew name ‘Jacob,’ which sounds like an entirely different name meaning ‘supplanter.’ There are more than five million Jameses in the U.S., and the name has been sitting in the top 20 most famous names in the U.S. for more than 100 years! Many U.S. presidents were also called James.

History of National James Day

There will always be a James on our list of friends and family. James is one of the most common names in the world. James is one of the most popular names in the U.S. and the world. It is one of the top 10 names in almost all decades since 1900. There are many famous Jameses throughout history. It is a name that is popular even today.

As we mentioned before, the name James is very old and has roots in Hebrew, derived from the name ‘Jacob,’ which sounds entirely different. The Hebrew name ‘Yaakov’ was adopted into Latin. Jacob comes from the Latin word ‘Iacobus,’ but in Late Latin, a variant form ‘Iacomus’ was more popular – hence the emergence of the different variations of it. The name was adapted to English around the thirteenth century, and the name James was born. Different variations of James are Jaime, Giacomo, and many more. The names Jacob and James also share the same meaning. Both of these names mean ‘supplanter,’ which means ‘one who follows.’

The name became popular due to its usage in the royal families. The Scottish king, James VI, took the status of the name to the heights of its popularity. It is also a prominent name in the Bible. Two of the apostles are named James. The names only gained global acceptance throughout the centuries. It is now one of the most common and widely recognized names in the world.

National James Day timeline

5 B.C.
James the Apostle

James the Great, one of the original Twelve Apostles of Jesus, is born.

1566
James VI of Edinburgh, Scotland

James VI, the monarch of England and Ireland, is born.

1920
James Bond

In the James Bond movies, the famous MI6 agent, James Bond, is born.

1978
James Franco

James Edward Franco, the ‘127 Hours’ film star, is born.

National James Day FAQs

How common is the name James?

The name James was the sixth most popular boy’s name in the world. It was also the 2,634th most popular girl’s name according to ‘datayze.com.’

Why is the name James so popular?

It is a biblical name and there are two of Jesus’s apostles named James. A few of the kings and presidents were also James — making the name popular.

What is the female name for James?

The name Jacqueline is the feminine French equivalent of James (Jacques).

National James Day Activities

  1. Wish a James well

    Do you know anyone named James? Wish them a good day and a happy National James Day to them.

  2. Send a gift card

    A gift can bring a smile to anyone's face. Send a gift card to a James whom you know.

  3. Arrange a party for all the James

    Throw a party for all the James. Invite people randomly and ask them to bring a James that they know with them.

5 Intriguing Facts About James

  1. Six American presidents

    James was the first name of six American presidents.

  2. The shortest U.S. president

    The shortest U.S. president was James Madison who was 64 inches tall.

  3. It’s a gender-neutral name

    The actor Ryan Reynolds named his daughter James.

  4. It’s still a popular name

    James was the sixth most popular boy name in 2020.

  5. Lady James

    One out of every 27,794 girls born in 2020 is called James.

Why We Love National James Day

  1. A day to honor all James

    This is a day for all the James in the world. We love to make people special and today is for James.

  2. We get in touch with friends

    We love to get in touch with old friends and make new ones. Today is a perfect day to rekindle that old James from our childhood and start a conversation with him. We've all had a James at some point in our lives.

  3. We get to look into history

    A day for James means a day to understand the origin of the name. We love to make people curious and help them learn new things every day.

National James Day dates

Year Date Day
2025 April 11 Friday
2026 April 11 Saturday
2027 April 11 Sunday
2028 April 11 Tuesday
2029 April 11 Wednesday