If you are here scouring the internet for the perfect middle name, first let us say, congratulations on your sweet baby!
As challenging as it is, parenting is a great honor and joy. It can be overwhelming at first, but choosing your child’s name is one of the most exciting and cherished parts of preparing for a new baby!
And it seems that you have chosen the name James (or are seriously considering it) as your baby’s first name, and we just love this timeless name for a baby boy. Now, you just need to find a middle name for James that you love!
We have created our middle name series for such a time as this!
When choosing a beloved middle name for your baby, there are more than a few things to consider. Let’s take a look at some ideas for inspiration:
Family ties:
Would you like to find a middle name that honors a family member or friend? For example, our eldest son bears the middle name of both of his grandfathers. A close friend named her new son Charles in memory of her uncle, and the family nicknamed him, “Charlie.” Names are a special way to honor those you love and people who have had a significant positive influence on your life.
Special Places:
Is there a city or town that holds a special place in your heart? My friend, Sydney, was named for the beautiful city of Australia. Her parents spent their honeymoon there, and it held important sentimental value. As another example a friend of mine recently named her little girl Paris. She worked as an au pair in Paris, France for two years, and even though she currently lives elsewhere with her family, the city has always held a special place in her heart. Popular city names for boys include Campbell, London, Austin, Boston, Israel, Phoenix, and Jordan.
Modern or Traditional:
Would you prefer to go with a middle name that is totally unique? Perhaps you would prefer to give your James a modern middle name such as Axel, Gunnar, Wolfe, or Zain. Pairing a classic or traditional name like James with a modern or uncommon name is a wonderful way to make your baby boy’s name unique or memorable.
Books:
Lastly, there’s the idea of choosing a literary name, whether from your favorite author or a character in a book. My neighbor named her son Henry David because she enjoys the works of famous writer Henry David Thoreau. His writings had a significant impact on her during college – she decided to be an English teacher!
Many books and television shows contain unique names and often serve as inspiration for upcoming names. For example, the middle name Wolfe is growing in popularity, but it seemed to be lost in time for a while!
Another possibility is that you may find a middle name whose meaning complements the meaning of the name James. So how much history is steeped in this name? And what does the name, James, mean customarily?
The Meaning of James
The name James originates from the Hebrew name Jacob, which means “supplanter.” Since we don’t use this word nowadays, we often wonder what it means and if the definition is generally negative or positive.
What is a supplanter anyway?
Traditionally, the meaning of Jacob was derived from the biblical story about Jacob and Esau, twin sons of Rachel and Isaac. As the story goes, Jacob was the younger of the twins in a time where custom dictated that the eldest son received the greatest inheritance. So, with his mother’s help, Jacob devised a plan to deceive his father, Isaac into giving him his older brother’s inheritance, also known as his birthright.
Therefore, the name Jacob came to mean one who takes the place of another through means of deception. However, since the brothers’ place in life and their relationship with one another was predicted ahead of time, many view this move on Jacob’s part as “meant to be.” In such, supplanter is also understood to mean a person of strength, determination, and perseverance.
James later became the name of many famous kings, poets, artists, and so on, and we can’t help but think that this is the meaning they had in mind – one who is strong, determined, and persevering!
Perhaps you are hoping that your James will be tenacious and astute! So what middle name could pair well with such a meaning as this?
Use These Ideas to Choose a Great Middle Name
Personality:
There are many middle names that work handsomely with James. Depending on your personal styles and preferences, a classic middle name like Alexander or Zachary sound wonderful with James; or a biblical middle name like Andrew or Nathan pairs well with James; or maybe your ideal is a more modern name like Cruz or Kylo (as in the infamous Kylo Ren, a.k.a. Ben Solo, from the Star Wars movies).
Whatever your taste, the elegance of James is not lost in its simplicity. Consider also that because James is a one-syllable name, both short and long middle names make perfect middle names for James.
Cadence:
Another important aspect for naming is to consider how a name flows together. This part is where your middle name is an important piece of the puzzle! Do you have a one-syllable last name or a four-syllable last name? Do you prefer a short moniker or a long one? What is typical in your family? Or what are your other children’s names?
There are no hard and fast rules to names, but generally, there are some elements to consider which make a name sound more pleasing or appealing.
For example, James John Jensen doesn’t sound amazing together, likely because there’s too much alliteration – repetitive consonant sounds. But James Jensen is a great name – it simply needs a middle name that doesn’t begin with J! Another reason may be that James and John are both short, one-syllable names. In some cases (such as with a longer last name that doesn’t begin with J), it may work well together. But in this example, it lacks cadence. Wait, isn’t “cadence” a musical term?
Technically, cadence refers to the rhythm or flow of a group of words and sounds. In other words, when you are considering middle names for James, say your choices aloud to see if the full name has cadence!
Generally, cadence is best achieved by mixing syllables in a rhythmic order. A name such as James Anthony Jensen has a better flow, or cadence, than James John Jones. However, a name like James Asher Jones sounds great together!
Notice that we have a mix of one-syllable, two-syllable, or three-syllable names. So what about a name like James Montgomery Anderson? It’s a pretty good name, but it does feel a little long. If you practice a name aloud and it just feels like a mouthful, don’t talk yourself into it. You’ll find a name that you love and can cherish throughout the years to come – just keep going down your list!
Switch First and Middle Names:
If you find a middle name that you absolutely love, but it doesn’t sound great to place it between James and your last name, then consider switching the first name and middle name!
Let’s do an example. Say you love the name Declan, but when paired with your last name it doesn’t flow well to say James Declan (insert your last name). You could switch the names around and call your son by his middle name (which would now be James)! (Declan is on our list because it’s a great partner for James; of Irish origin, it traditionally means “full of goodness” or “man of prayer.”)
Boy Names that Go with James:
There are so many good middle name options for James, and we hope this exploration of the name James has given you many ideas for the best middle name for yourJames. Whether you go with a classical or modern middle name, something traditional or dynamic, James is certainly a timeless name with many possible options. So, without further adieu, here are 105 inspired middle names for James:
Best wishes to you in your search for the best middle name for James! We hope that your foray into parenthood is sweet and fulfilling. As any parent of boys is aware, they are full of adventure, spunk, and energy. May your baby James be as steadfast as his name!
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