Jimmy first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Jimmy has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Jimmy

A diminutive masculine form of the English name James, of Hebrew origin meaning "supplanter".

Popularity of Jimmy by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jimmy is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Jimmy being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 298 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Jimmy.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 298 0
2022 324 0
2021 332 0
2020 340 0
2019 385 0
2018 391 0
2017 460 0
2016 517 0
2015 488 0
2014 534 0
2013 573 0
2012 588 0
2011 667 0
2010 770 0
2009 824 0
2008 881 0
2007 961 0
2006 988 0
2005 1,086 0
2004 1,134 0
2003 1,126 0
2002 1,169 5
2001 1,106 0
2000 1,189 5
1999 1,097 0
1998 1,088 7
1997 1,228 5
1996 1,361 5
1995 1,355 0
1994 1,373 10
1993 1,528 9
1992 1,556 8
1991 1,729 6
1990 1,787 17
1989 1,745 15
1988 1,731 18
1987 1,810 16
1986 1,820 24
1985 1,866 20
1984 2,070 22
1983 2,089 20
1982 2,092 18
1981 2,097 21
1980 2,205 15
1979 2,233 26
1978 2,168 25
1977 2,637 23
1976 2,498 31
1975 2,359 22
1974 2,569 26

The history of the first name Jimmy

The given name Jimmy is a diminutive or pet form of the name James, which originated from the Late Latin name Iacomus. Iacomus itself derived from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov, meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows". The name James ultimately traces its roots back to the biblical patriarch Jacob, one of the earliest recorded examples of this name.

Jimmy emerged as a nickname for James in English-speaking cultures, likely during the Middle Ages when diminutive forms of names became popular. The earliest recorded use of Jimmy as a given name dates back to the 16th century in England.

One of the most famous bearers of the name Jimmy was Jimmy Stewart (1908-1997), an American actor best known for his roles in classic films such as "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Rear Window". Another notable Jimmy was Jimmy Carter (born 1924), the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981.

In the world of sports, Jimmy Connors (born 1952) was a legendary American tennis player who won eight Grand Slam singles titles during his career. Jimmy Greaves (1940-2021) was an English football (soccer) player and one of the greatest goal-scorers in the history of the sport.

Lastly, Jimmy Hoffa (1913-1975?) was an influential American labor union leader who rose to prominence as the President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. His disappearance in 1975 remains one of the most famous unsolved mysteries in American history.

While the name Jimmy has its roots in the biblical name Jacob, it has evolved over time and gained popularity as a standalone given name, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its enduring presence in various fields, from entertainment to politics and sports, attests to its widespread use and cultural significance.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jimmy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jimmy, please contact us.

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"Jimmy first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/jimmy-meaning-and-history/.

"Jimmy first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/jimmy-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Jimmy first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/jimmy-meaning-and-history/.

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