James is a name of English origin that has been popular for centuries. It is derived from the Middle English name "James," which was brought to England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest in 1066. The name James is ultimately of Latin origin, coming from the name "Iacomus," which was a Latin form of the Hebrew name "Jacob."
The meaning of the name James is believed to be related to its Hebrew origins and translates as "supplanter" or "seizing by the heel." This refers to the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with an angel and being given the new name Israel, as told in Genesis 32:28.
The name James has a rich history and has been borne by many notable figures throughout history. Some of the most famous bearers of the name include King James I of England (also known as James VI of Scotland), who ruled from 1603 to 1625, and James Bond, the fictional British spy created by Ian Fleming.
In popular culture today, the name James is often associated with the character "James T. Kirk" from the Star Trek franchise, played by William Shatner in the original series and by Chris Pine in the reboot films. The name has also been used prominently in literature, such as in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," where the main character is named Jay Gatsby (a play on the name James).
The name Jamez has had a fluctuating popularity over the past four decades in the United States. The earliest record of its usage dates back to 1981 with only five births that year. However, it saw a slight increase in popularity in the following years, reaching six births each in 1983 and 1984.
The name gained some traction in the early nineties, with eighteen births recorded in 1990, which was its highest number at that time. This trend continued throughout the decade, with fluctuations between twelve to nineteen births per year until the end of the century.
The new millennium saw a surge in the popularity of the name Jamez. In 2003, it reached an all-time high of thirty births, indicating that more parents were choosing this name for their children. This number fluctuated between twenty and thirty births annually until 2010, when it peaked again at thirty-two births.
However, since 2011, the popularity of the name Jamez has been on a decline. There have been fewer than thirty births each year, with the exception of 2019 where it saw fourteen births. The most recent data from 2022 shows six births, indicating that the name is currently less popular than it was in its peak years.
Overall, over these four decades, there have been a total of 629 recorded births with the name Jamez in the United States. This demonstrates that while it has had periods of popularity, the name's usage has generally remained relatively uncommon compared to other names.