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Name Origin

James is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the name Jacob. It means 'supplanter' or 'he grasps the heel,' referring to the biblical story of Jacob grasping his twin brother Esau's heel at birth.

hebrewbiblicalmasculinetraditionalpopularmeaningfulsupplanterjacob

Famous People

James Clerk Maxwell (1831-1879)

Physicist

  • Formulated the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation
  • Fundamental contributions to statistical mechanics and thermodynamics

James Joyce (1882-1941)

Writer and Poet

  • Modernist literary giant
  • Known for works like Ulysses and Finnegans Wake

James Baldwin (1924-1987)

Writer and Activist

  • Powerful voice in the Civil Rights Movement
  • Known for essays and novels exploring race, sexuality, and social justice

James Cameron (1954-)

Film Director and Producer

  • Directed blockbuster films like Titanic and Avatar
  • Pioneer in filmmaking technology

James Watson (1928-)

Molecular biologist, geneticist

  • Co-discoverer of the double helix structure of DNA
  • Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1962)

James Madison (1751-1836)

Politician

  • Fourth President of the United States
  • Father of the Constitution
  • Co-author of The Federalist Papers

James Cook (1728-1779)

Explorer, Navigator

  • Explored and mapped much of the Pacific Ocean
  • Discovered Australia's east coast
  • Made significant contributions to cartography and navigation

James Dean (1931-1955)

Actor

  • Starred in Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant
  • Cultural icon of teenage rebellion
  • Died tragically young in a car accident