Is Jim a boy's or girl's name?

Jim is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 816 recorded births.

When was Jim most popular?

Jim reached its peak popularity in 1959 with 5,687 births that year. It is currently ranked #4475 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Jim?

Jim is currently ranked #4475 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 153,083 babies since 1880.

Jim

A Hebrew name gently fading from the charts.

Boy's name| Also girlsHebrewDeclining Also a pet name

#4475▼ 314in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A diminutive of the male given name James.

Jim is a boy's and girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, a diminutive of James, which traces back through the Latin Jacobus to the Hebrew Ya'akov meaning 'supplanter.' Jim became so common in American English that it gave us "a jim-dandy" and "jim-crack."

Jim Carrey, Jim Morrison, and President Jimmy Carter (born James) show the name's range from comedy to rock to politics. Warm, unpretentious, and deeply American — Jim is the name of a friend you can count on.

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Popularity Over Time

Jim was #1400 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #4475, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Jim
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	160	#3647	▼
2010s	506	#2576	▼
2000s	962	#1521	▼
1990s	1,607	#883	▼
1980s	2,548	#562	▼
1970s	6,023	#331	▼
1960s	33,198	#120	▲
1950s	26,215	#140	▼
1940s	35,632	#79	▲
1930s	20,823	#95	▲
1920s	10,566	#152	▲
1910s	5,764	#154	▲
1900s	2,718	#89	—
1890s	2,841	#70	▼
1880s	3,520	#51	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 1880–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Jim
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	23	#4475	-3 (-11.5%)
2023	26	#4161	-8 (-23.5%)
2022	34	#3437	-3 (-8.1%)
2021	37	#3208	-3 (-7.5%)
2020	40	#2952	+1 (2.6%)
2019	39	#3075	0
2018	39	#3020	+2 (5.4%)
2017	37	#3157	-6 (-14.0%)
2016	43	#2811	+1 (2.4%)
2015	42	#2829	-21 (-33.3%)
2014	63	#2164	+3 (5.0%)
2013	60	#2188	+2 (3.4%)
2012	58	#2250	-3 (-4.9%)
2011	61	#2157	-3 (-4.7%)
2010	64	#2106	+3 (4.9%)
2009	61	#2192	-27 (-30.7%)
2008	88	#1727	+9 (11.4%)
2007	79	#1837	-18 (-18.6%)
2006	97	#1542	+5 (5.4%)
2005	92	#1540	-10 (-9.8%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Jim as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Jim has also been given to 816 girls in the U.S. since 1888.

Unranked

Current rank

816

Total births

1918

Peak year

Compare Jim as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Jim be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Jim is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #4475. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Jim has two lives

Jim, the baby name

#4475boys

153,083 babies

Currently viewing

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1880–2024) · Methodology

Jim