James

The meaning of James is 'of the heel'. The name James is taken from the name Jacob, which in turn is derived from the Hebrew name ‘Yaakov’. 'Yaakov' finds its origin in the word ‘akev’, which means ‘at the heel’. Jacob also has biblical roots and is derived from Jacomus, a Latin word meaning ‘may the Almighty protect’ and was the name of two of Jesus' apostles. When Elizabeth I died in 1603 without an heir, James VI inherited the English throne, increasing the popularity of the name. James Bond is a fictional English spy, an international man of mystery and one of the most beloved characters in film history. There have been many famous actors with the name, including James Dean, James McAvoy and James Earl Jones, whose voice features as Mufasa in Lion King and Darth Vader in Star Wars. James has been in the top twenty boys' names in the US for many years and is currently sitting in 14th position.