Jim Boy

Popularity: #900 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: jim /dʒɪm/

Origin: English; Hebrew

Meaning: English: Supplanter; Hebrew: God will increase

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jim is derived from the name James, which has its roots in the Hebrew name Ya'aqov (Jacob), meaning "supplanter" or "holder of the heel." This name was adapted into Greek as Iakobos and subsequently into Latin as Iacobus. The transition into Old French occurred during the Norman Conquest, where it became Jacques.

The English form James emerged in the 13th century, and Jim is a diminutive form that developed later, particularly in the 19th century as a familiar or affectionate variant of James. Historically, the name James has significant biblical associations, notably with two apostles: James the Greater and James the Lesser.

The name gained prominence in the Christian tradition, particularly due to King James I of England, who commissioned the King James Version of the Bible in 1611. This translation played a crucial role in shaping English literature and religious thought, further solidifying the name's importance in the cultural and historical landscape of England.

Culturally, Jim has been associated with various symbolic meanings, often embodying qualities of strength and leadership, reflective of its biblical roots. The name has appeared in numerous literary works and folk traditions, contributing to its resonance in Western culture.

The diminutive Jim has also been used in various contexts, including folklore and popular culture, often representing the everyman or a relatable character. Overall, the name Jim, through its lineage from James, carries a rich historical and cultural significance that has endured through the centuries.

Famous people named Jim

In this section, you will find notable people named Jim. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Jim who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Jim who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Jim Carrey is an actor and comedian best known for The Truman Show, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and Dumb and Dumber.

Jim Parsons is an actor best known for The Big Bang Theory, Hidden Figures, and Young Sheldon.

Jim Henson was a puppeteer and filmmaker best known for The Muppets, Sesame Street, and Fraggle Rock.

Jim Brown is a former professional football player best known for his career with the Cleveland Browns and his impact on the NFL.

Jim Croce was a singer-songwriter best known for Time in a Bottle, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown, and Operator (That's Not the Way It Feels).

Jim Jarmusch is a filmmaker best known for Stranger Than Paradise, Down by Law, and Paterson.

Jim Belushi is an actor and comedian best known for According to Jim, Saturday Night Live, and The Blues Brothers.

Jim Sturgess is an actor and musician best known for Across the Universe, 21, and One Day.

Jim Gaffigan is a comedian and actor best known for his stand-up specials, The Jim Gaffigan Show, and Hot Pockets commercials.

Jim Lee is a comic book artist and publisher best known for co-founding Image Comics and his work on Batman: Hush.

Fictional characters named Jim

The following list of fictional characters named Jim is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Jim Hawkins is a fictional character from the novel Treasure Island. He is the young protagonist who embarks on a dangerous adventure to find buried pirate treasure.

Jim Halpert is a fictional character from the TV series The Office. He is a salesman known for his pranks on his deskmate and his romantic interest in Pam Beesly.

Jim Gordon is a fictional character from the DC Comics universe. He is a police commissioner in Gotham City who often collaborates with Batman to fight crime.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jim, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

JackJoeJohnJakeJaredJamesJordan

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jim. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

TimTomJimboJebJayJaceJudeJoss

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jim was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Jim has ranked as high as #157 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan.

In the past 5 years the name Jim has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Jim is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Jim was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Jim.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 38 38 0
2024 23 23 0
2023 27 27 0
2022 34 34 0
2021 37 37 0
2020 40 40 0
2019 39 39 0
2018 39 39 0
2017 37 37 0
2016 43 43 0
2015 42 42 0
2014 63 63 0
2013 60 60 0
2012 58 58 0
2011 61 61 0
2010 64 64 0
2009 61 61 0
2008 88 88 0
2007 79 79 0
2006 97 97 0
2005 92 92 0
2004 102 102 0
2003 101 101 0
2002 117 117 0
2001 105 105 0
2000 120 120 0
1999 104 104 0
1998 123 123 0
1997 129 129 0
1996 157 157 0
1995 158 158 0
1994 171 171 0
1993 167 167 0
1992 195 195 0
1991 184 184 0
1990 219 219 0
1989 193 193 0
1988 215 215 0
1987 241 241 0
1986 222 222 0
1985 207 207 0
1984 261 256 5
1983 279 279 0
1982 313 313 0
1981 319 319 0
1980 302 302 0
1979 369 369 0
1978 359 359 0
1977 408 408 0
1976 420 420 0
1975 439 439 0
1974 541 541 0
1973 590 585 5
1972 707 707 0
1971 942 934 8
1970 1,259 1,259 0
1969 1,438 1,427 11
1968 1,509 1,502 7
1967 1,817 1,806 11
1966 2,202 2,197 5
1965 2,781 2,772 9
1964 3,654 3,644 10
1963 4,244 4,237 7
1962 4,725 4,715 10
1961 5,362 5,352 10
1960 5,557 5,549 8
1959 5,697 5,688 9
1958 4,933 4,921 12
1957 3,551 3,543 8
1956 2,193 2,188 5
1955 1,706 1,699 7
1954 1,603 1,593 10
1953 1,542 1,535 7
1952 1,523 1,523 0
1951 1,602 1,595 7
1950 1,936 1,930 6
1949 2,731 2,725 6
1948 3,819 3,808 11
1947 4,653 4,640 13
1946 4,348 4,336 12
1945 3,637 3,625 12
1944 3,761 3,744 17
1943 3,695 3,682 13
1942 3,529 3,514 15
1941 2,851 2,843 8
1940 2,730 2,715 15
1939 2,652 2,636 16
1938 2,510 2,497 13
1937 2,355 2,347 8
1936 2,275 2,268 7
1935 2,259 2,244 15
1934 2,223 2,207 16
1933 1,888 1,875 13
1932 1,779 1,765 14
1931 1,535 1,520 15
1930 1,481 1,464 17
1929 1,311 1,290 21
1928 1,258 1,237 21
1927 1,313 1,293 20
1926 1,178 1,165 13
1925 1,137 1,124 13
1924 1,008 992 16
1923 882 867 15
1922 900 881 19
1921 893 879 14
1920 848 838 10
1919 864 848 16
1918 850 827 23
1917 789 774 15
1916 701 684 17
1915 688 668 20
1914 523 513 10
1913 482 473 9
1912 407 401 6
1911 253 245 8
1910 344 331 13
1909 267 259 8
1908 225 220 5
1907 286 281 5
1906 261 261 0
1905 242 236 6
1904 266 266 0
1903 257 257 0
1902 300 300 0
1901 239 239 0
1900 408 399 9
1899 266 261 5
1898 269 269 0
1897 252 252 0
1896 290 281 9
1895 283 278 5
1894 287 287 0
1893 261 255 6
1892 342 334 8
1891 294 288 6
1890 343 336 7
1889 328 328 0
1888 367 362 5
1887 339 339 0
1886 389 389 0
1885 370 370 0
1884 346 346 0
1883 322 322 0
1882 396 396 0
1881 323 323 0
1880 345 345 0

Top States for Jim (2023)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 5
100%