Jaime peaked in 1980 and holds at current rank #605, with 71,068 total SSA bearers. It's the Spanish and Portuguese form of James — which is itself derived from Jacob — and it sits in a complicated position: a traditional Latin name that's also the first name of a Game of Thrones character, a gender-neutral name in Spanish that's primarily male in SSA data, and a name with a pronunciation that changes depending on who's reading it.
Iago, Diego, James, Jaime
Jaime traces through Spanish and Portuguese from the Late Latin Jacomus, a variant of Jacobus (Jacob). The biblical name Jacob means "he who supplants." Through French, Jacob became James in English; through Spanish, it became Diego, Iago, and Jaime. These are all the same name across different linguistic paths. Jaime Escalante — the legendary East Los Angeles math teacher whose story was told in Stand and Deliver (1988) — is among the most inspiring American bearers of this name. Jaime Pressly, Jaime Camil, Jaime Diaz are other notable bearers across entertainment and journalism.
The Pronunciation Split
In Spanish, Jaime is HYE-meh. In English, it's often read as JAY-mee : which is also a common spelling of the girl's name Jamie. This creates a pronunciation ambiguity that doesn't exist for most names: an English-speaking person who reads Jaime will often say a girl's name. For a family where Spanish is the primary language, this isn't a problem; for a family navigating English-dominant environments, it's a practical consideration worth thinking through.
A Name for Heritage-Proud Families
Jaime's 1980 peak means today's bearers are primarily in their 40s and 50s. For families with Spanish or Portuguese heritage who want a traditional name with deep linguistic roots, Jaime remains meaningful and direct. For families navigating English-Spanish bilingual contexts, the pronunciation question is the main variable. Compare Jaime vs James to see the same root in two different languages, or look at Diego for the same Jacob origin in a more contemporary Spanish form.