Jim - A very unique male name
Jim at a glance
Jim is ranked #4047 among boy baby names in 2025, with 5 births in 2025. It peaked in 1944 at #68 and first appeared on the charts in 1910.
- Rank in 2025
- #4047
- Births in 2025
- 5
- Peak year
- 1944 (#68)
- First appeared
- 1910
- Trend
- #3873 in 2020 → #4047 in 2025 (Falling)
- Popularity
- 1 in 293,257 boys
- Visitor rating
- 2.3/5 (3 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 293,257 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Jim peaked in popularity 82 years ago in 1944 on position 68.
Famous with this name
Jim Carrey
Jim Caviezel
Jim Belushi
How would you rate Jim, 1-5?
Jim is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Jim is currently topping the baby name charts in Ohio at position #1,368 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #1,368.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Jim is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Jim origin and meaning
English — short form of James
A diminutive of James, the English form of Jacob, from Hebrew Ya'akov, traditionally 'supplanter'
Jim grew out of medieval pet forms of James — Jem first, then Jim — and became a name in its own right, peaking in 1959 with 5,683 births. It has since fallen steadily, from #3873 in 2020 to #4047 in 2025, and now reads as a friendly mid-century name.
Attested etymology
Jim is a 3 letter name with 1 syllables.
To see famous people named Jim, pop culture references for the name Jim and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Jim
We've found the following names that sound similar to Jim, sorted by popularity.
John / Jason / Juan / Johnny / Jackson / Jimmy / Jon / Jaxon / Jimmie / Johnnie /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 4047 |
| 2023 | 4091 |
| 2022 | 3312 |
| 2020 | 3873 |
| 2019 | 3529 |
| 2018 | 3151 |
| 2017 | 2767 |
| 2016 | 2576 |
| 2015 | 2454 |
| 2014 | 1931 |
| 2013 | 2001 |
| 2012 | 2378 |
| 2011 | 2187 |
| 2010 | 1998 |
| 2009 | 2568 |
| 2008 | 1999 |
| 2007 | 1909 |
| 2006 | 1477 |
| 2005 | 1468 |
| 2004 | 1479 |
| 2003 | 1364 |
| 2002 | 1140 |
| 2001 | 1338 |
| 2000 | 1208 |
| 1999 | 1198 |
| 1998 | 1126 |
| 1997 | 1028 |
| 1996 | 876 |
| 1995 | 900 |
| 1994 | 880 |
| 1993 | 852 |
| 1992 | 763 |
| 1991 | 769 |
| 1990 | 708 |
| 1989 | 739 |
| 1988 | 666 |
| 1987 | 615 |
| 1986 | 616 |
| 1985 | 622 |
| 1984 | 531 |
| 1983 | 509 |
| 1982 | 479 |
| 1981 | 473 |
| 1980 | 487 |
| 1979 | 411 |
| 1978 | 414 |
| 1977 | 394 |
| 1976 | 372 |
| 1975 | 361 |
| 1974 | 322 |
| 1973 | 302 |
| 1972 | 271 |
| 1971 | 245 |
| 1970 | 204 |
| 1969 | 189 |
| 1968 | 178 |
| 1967 | 152 |
| 1966 | 136 |
| 1965 | 117 |
| 1964 | 101 |
| 1963 | 92 |
| 1962 | 85 |
| 1961 | 78 |
| 1960 | 75 |
| 1959 | 70 |
| 1958 | 88 |
| 1957 | 106 |
| 1956 | 148 |
| 1955 | 166 |
| 1954 | 173 |
| 1953 | 174 |
| 1952 | 172 |
| 1951 | 163 |
| 1950 | 139 |
| 1949 | 108 |
| 1948 | 87 |
| 1947 | 77 |
| 1946 | 73 |
| 1945 | 68 |
| 1944 | 68 |
| 1943 | 75 |
| 1942 | 74 |
| 1941 | 80 |
| 1940 | 78 |
| 1939 | 76 |
| 1938 | 81 |
| 1937 | 83 |
| 1936 | 85 |
| 1935 | 90 |
| 1934 | 90 |
| 1933 | 98 |
| 1932 | 103 |
| 1931 | 116 |
| 1930 | 122 |
| 1929 | 131 |
| 1928 | 137 |
| 1927 | 136 |
| 1926 | 143 |
| 1925 | 145 |
| 1924 | 158 |
| 1923 | 168 |
| 1922 | 168 |
| 1921 | 164 |
| 1920 | 162 |
| 1919 | 156 |
| 1918 | 164 |
| 1917 | 165 |
| 1916 | 176 |
| 1915 | 173 |
| 1914 | 175 |
| 1913 | 157 |
| 1912 | 148 |
| 1911 | 132 |
| 1910 | 98 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Ohio | 1368 |
Even more about Jim
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Jim a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Jim?
1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
JIM · /dʒɪm/
Around the world
No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.
Spellings and nicknames
- James — The full name Jim shortens; a separate, established name.
- Jimmy — The elaborated pet form of the same name.
Nicknames: Jamie
Famous bearers
- Jim Morrison — Lead singer of The Doors, born James Douglas Morrison and universally known as Jim Morrison (1943–1971) Historical
- Jim Henson — Creator of the Muppets, born James Maury Henson and known throughout his career as Jim Henson (1936–1990) Historical
- Jim Carrey — Actor and comedian, born James Eugene Carrey and known professionally as Jim Carrey (b. 1962) Contemporary
Style
Short formNickname nameClassic
Why parents choose it
Jim appeals to parents after a plain, warm, no-nonsense name — though today it feels more like a grandfather than a classmate.
Worth knowing
- Now strongly dated to the mid-20th century, and often assumed to be a nickname for James rather than a full name.
