List of people named James

Last updated September 01, 2025

Notable people with the name

Multiple people

Academia

James Murray Beck (1914–2011), Canadian historian
James S. Ettema, American academic
James Morgan Hart (1839–1916), American academic, philologist, and translator
James Mosley (1935–2025), British librarian and book historian
James Honeycutt (born 1958), American academic
James H. Hurley, American university professor
James P. M. Ntozi, Ugandan academic

In crime

James Lutgen, American murderer
James Earl Ray, American convicted assassin of Martin Luther King Jr.
James Warnock (born 1959), British serial killer

In film and television

James Blanco (born 1981), Filipino actor, model, singer, and songwriter
James L. Brooks (born 1940), American director, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Gracie Films
James Corden (born 1978), English actor, comedian, singer, writer, producer, and former television host
James Franco (born 1978), American actor and filmmaker
James Gandolfini (1961-2013), American actor
James Lontayao - American actor, comedian and former VJ of MyxTV
James "Jimmie" Mannas Jr. (born 1941), African American film director and cinematographer
James May (born 1963), British television presenter
James McAvoy (born 1979), Scottish actor
James Ricardo, American film director, producer, screenwriter
James Saito, Japanese-American actor
James Teng (born 1998), Filipino actor

In literature and journalism

James Baldwin, American writer and civil rights activist
James F. Bandrowski, author and global keynote speaker
James M. Cain, American crime fiction writer
James Fenimore Cooper, American novelist
James Parkyns Derriman (1922–2007), British writer
James Ellroy, American crime fiction writer and essayist
James Joyce, Irish novelist, poet and literary critic
James Monteith (1831–1890), American author
James Neff, American journalist and writer

In military

James T. Crossland III (1829–1863), lieutenant colonel in the Confederate Army of Tennessee
James Glerum (died 2020), Central Intelligence Agency Paramilitary Case Officer
James Ernest Paschall (1923–2024), United States Air Force major general
James Trousdale (1736–1818), captain in the American Revolution

In politics and government

James F. Bockelman (born 1934), American politician, member of the Florida House of Representatives
James Bowen Brandt (1909–1983), American politician, member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
James Russell Brashears (1858–1917), American lawyer, politician, and judge, member of the Maryland State Senate
James E. Carter (1924-2024), 39th President of the United States
James Griswold (1828–1892), American politician, member of the Connecticut General Assembly
James Haffey (1857–1910), American politician, member of the Washington House of Representatives
James M. Halsey (1825–1899), American farmer, merchant, and politician, member of the New York State Assembly
James Holshouser (1934–2013), American lawyer and politician, 68th Governor of North Carolina
James Michael Johnson (born 1972), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
James Lankford (born 1968), American politician
James D. Mockler (1939-2014), American politician, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives
James M. O'Brien (1890-1958), American politician, Mayor of Revere, Massachusetts
James H. Purkins (1814-?), state legislator in Arkansas, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and the Arkansas Senate
James Troupe Sr. (1909–1994), state legislator in Missouri
James D. Vance (born 1984), Vice President of the United States
James Yems (1812–1868), New Zealand politician and auctioneer, member of the Taranaki Provincial Council for New Plymouth
James H. Wolff (1847–1913) American lawyer, war veteran, civil rights activist

In religion

James Dobson (1936–2025), American evangelical Christian psychologist and founder of Focus on the Family
James Fanstone (1890–1987), British Christian medical missionary

In sports

James Aldred (born 1963), Canadian ice hockey coach and player
James Anderson, several people
James Eugene Avant (1963−2018), American jockey
James Connor (1867–1929), English footballer
James Hanning, English footballer
James Harden, American basketball player
James Honeyben, rugby union coach and former English professional rugby player
James Hoyle (born 1985), England rugby union player
James Ignatowich (born 2000), American professional pickleball player
James William Kirkaldy (1885–1911), British footballer
James Lichtenstein (born 1994), American high diver
James Mandler (1922–2007), American basketball player
James Rosette (1938–2019), American boxer
James Sorrie (1885–1955), Scottish first-class cricketer
James Wharton (born 2006), Australian racing driver

Music

Composers

James Dorsa, composer and harpsichordist

Singers and musicians

James Andrew Antcliff (born 1993), English singer
James Blunt (born 1974), English musician
James Dean Bradfield (born 1969), Welsh singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer
James Paul McCartney (born 1942) English musician, songwriter, and former member of bands The Beatles and Wings
James Iheakanwa, Nigerian-Australian rapper
James Hetfield (born 1963), American singer
James William Hindle, British singer-songwriter from Yorkshire
James "The Rev" Sullivan (1981-2009), American drummer

Scientists

Empiricial scientists

James E. Banta, American health scientist
James Bliska, American molecular biologist
James D. Brenton, clinician scientist
James R. Broach, American biochemist and molecular biologist
Sir James Chadwick (1891–1974), English physicist
James M. Cheverud, American biologist
James W. Le Duc, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and Director at University of Texas Medical Branch, and Director of the Galveston National Laboratory
James H. Geer, American psychologist
James Kutsch, American computer scientist
James Young Oldshue (1925–2007), chemical engineer
James M. Sodetz, American biologist
James "Jim" Specht, American agronomist
James Spotila, American biologist
James M. Tepper, American neuroscientist
James P. Trevelyan (born 1948), Australian engineer and researcher
James D. Watson, American molecular biologist

Social scientists

James A. Holstein, American sociologist
James Robert "Jim" Kluegel (born 1947), American sociologist
James Shortle, American economist

Other

James Adomian (born 1980), American stand-up comedian, actor, and impressionist
James F. Blake (1912–2002), American bus driver
James Braithwaite (1838–1919), English obstetric physician
James Byrd Jr. (1949–1998), American murder victim
James W. Davant (1915–2009), chief executive of Paine Webber
James D. Duncan (1806-1881), Irish artist
James Flawn (1837–1917), English restaurateur and tent revivalist
James Joseph Grazioplene (born 1949), former general officer in the United States Army and convicted sex offender
James Holzhauer (born 1984), American game show contestant and professional sports gambler
James Kynvyn, English craftsman
James H. Lubowitz (born 1962), American orthopedic surgeon
James Luckcock (1761–1835), English jeweller
James MacCash (1834–1922), founder of the Order of Scottish Clans
James E. "Jim" Nevels, American business executive and entrepreneur
James L. Nuckolls (1938–1987), American lighting designer, author and educator
James Pernotto (born 1950), American contemporary artist
James Riady (born 1957), Indonesian businessman and the deputy chairman of the Lippo Group, a major Indonesian conglomerate
James T. Prokopanko, former president and Chief Executive Officer of The Mosaic Company
James Rymer (1750–1829), Scottish naval surgeon and medical writer
James Staiano, executive chef of the Madison Room and Bar at the New York Palace Hotel
James Stanford, American contemporary artist
James G. Thimmes (1896–1955), American labour unionist
James Edward Tuttiett (born 1963), British businessman
James Wannerton, English IT professional, artist and writer
James X. Zhan, Director of Investment and Enterprise at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) since 2009

Fictional characters

James, a character from Pokémon
James, vampire and main antagonist of Twilight
James, a non-playable Mii opponent in the Wii series
James Bond, a spy character from a series of films of the same name.
James Diamond, one of the members of Big Time Rush
James Garrett, a character in season 4 of Zoey 101
James Henry Trotter, the main character from the Roald Dahl story, James and the Giant Peach.
James Howlett (aka Logan), better known as Wolverine from Marvel Comics
James MacDonald, a recurring character in the television series Arthur
James Marcus, a video game character in Resident Evil Zero
James McEwan, a character from Heartstopper
James Potter, father of Harry Potter in the series of the same name
James Rogers, father of Tiana in The Princess and the Frog
James P. "Sulley" Sullivan, a character from Monsters, Inc. franchise
James Wilson, a character and M.D in the medical drama House
James is the name of the boy in the children's book and tv special, The Snowman by Raymond Briggs.
James the Red Engine, engine and character in Thomas & Friends
Prince James, from the Disney animated series Sofia the First

List of people named James

Contents

Notable people with the name

Multiple people

Academia

In crime

In film and television

In literature and journalism

In military

In politics and government

In religion

In sports

Music

Composers

Singers and musicians

Scientists

Empiricial scientists

Social scientists

Other

Fictional characters

See also