Given name & surname
Hamish
“he who supplants”
Hamish is a form of James. James is traditionally associated with “he who supplants” through its connection with Jacob. The explanation belongs to the biblical Jacob story, rather than describing a separate meaning created by the English spelling James.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Scottish use, Hamish carries the interpretation “he who supplants.” Hamish is a form of James. James is traditionally associated with “he who supplants” through its connection with Jacob. The explanation belongs to the biblical Jacob story, rather than describing a separate meaning created by the English spelling James.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Scottish.
How it developed
Hamish is used as a form of James. Hamish is a form of James. The shared background comes through James: The route to James passes through Late Latin Iacomus, a variant of the Latin form of Jacob. This different Latin development helps explain how James and Jacob could become distinct English names while retaining the same older origin.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1981. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Hamish is a form of James. The history of James gives this family its wider story. James was borne by two New Testament disciples: James son of Zebedee and James son of Alphaeus. James later became a recurring Scottish royal name: James VI of Scotland took the English throne in 1603. After James II lost that throne in 1688, his family’s supporters became known as Jacobites, drawing on the Latin form of James.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Hamish through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 364
- 364 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2017
- 25 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #6,240 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +16%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 6,240 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 15.6% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 600 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Hamish’s family of names
In English usage, Hamish developed from James. In Scots usage, Hamish has a conventional equivalent in the Spanish form Jaime. Hamish is a form of James.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Hamish has relatives in 3 languages.
4 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Hamish
- Hamish LinklaterAmerican actorborn 1976
- Hamish KerrNew Zealand athletics competitorborn 1996
- Hamish BondNew Zealand rower and cyclist (born 1986)
- Hamish CarterNew Zealand Olympic triathleteborn 1971
- Hamish TurnbullBritish cyclistborn 1999
- Hamish MacCunnScottish romantic composer, conductor and teacher (1868–1916)
- Hamish PeacockAustralian javelin throwerborn 1990
- Hamish WatsonScottish and Edinburgh rugby union playerborn 1991
- Hamish HamiltonBritish directorborn 1966
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Hamish, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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