Jim
Jim is a boy's name of Hebrew origin.
Meaning
Supplanter or one who follows.
Origin and history
Jim is an English short form of James, which ultimately derives from the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning 'supplanter'. Historically extremely popular as a standalone given name in the United States, its usage as a registered birth name has declined significantly in recent decades. It remains a ubiquitous, approachable classic in American culture.
Popularity in the United States
153,122 babies in the United States have been named Jim since 1880. It ranks #227 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1728.
States where it is most popular
- CA (13.8 %)
- TX (7.2 %)
- IL (6.2 %)
- OH (6.2 %)
- MI (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 3,520 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,841 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,718 |
| 1910-1920 | 5,764 |
| 1920-1930 | 10,566 |
| 1930-1940 | 20,823 |
| 1940-1950 | 35,632 |
| 1950-1960 | 26,215 |
| 1960-1970 | 33,201 |
| 1970-1980 | 6,021 |
| 1980-1990 | 2,547 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,607 |
| 2000-2010 | 962 |
| 2010-2019 | 506 |
| 2020-2029 | 199 |
Famous people named Jim
- Jim Henson: Puppeteer, Filmmaker
- Jim Carrey: Actor, Comedian
- Jim Thorpe: Athlete, Olympic Medalist
Fun facts
- While commonly used as a nickname, Jim was frequently registered as a legal first name in the U.S. throughout the 20th century.
- Jim is a prominent character in Mark Twain's classic 1884 novel 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'.