James Rankin may refer to:
- James Rankin (lighthouse keeper) (1844–1921), American lighthouse keeper
- Sir James Rankin, 1st Baronet (1842–1915), British Member of Parliament
- James Rankin (actor), Canadian voice actor, voice of Mr. Owl on Franklin
- James Rankin (RAF officer), RAF flying ace during World War II
- J. Lee Rankin (1907–1996), U.S. Solicitor General
- James Stuart Rankin, British Member of Parliament for Liverpool East Toxteth, 1916–1924
- Jimmy Rankin, Canadian musician
- James Rankin (Ohio politician), former member of the Ohio House of Representatives
- James Palmer Rankin (1855–1934), physician and political figure in Ontario, Canada