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

Popularity of Jin by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jin is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 78% of people named Jin being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 65 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Jin.

The history of the first name Jin

The name Jin is derived from the Chinese language and has its origins dating back to ancient times. It is a unisex name that can be used for both males and females.

Jin is a Chinese word that means "gold" or "golden," representing wealth, prosperity, and radiance. The name is believed to have been used as early as the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC – 1046 BC) in ancient China.

In Chinese mythology, Jin is associated with the Golden Crow, a sacred bird that was believed to possess divine powers. The name Jin is also found in various Chinese literary works and historical records from the past.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jin is Jin Xuan, a famous calligrapher and scholar who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD – 220 AD). Jin Xuan was renowned for her exceptional calligraphic skills and played a significant role in the development of the cursive script in China.

Another notable figure with the name Jin is Jin Hui, a Buddhist monk who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618 AD – 907 AD). Jin Hui was a prominent figure in the Chan (Zen) Buddhist tradition and is remembered for his teachings on the nature of enlightenment.

During the Song Dynasty (960 AD – 1279 AD), Jin Shengtan was a famous literary critic and scholar known for his insightful commentaries on classical Chinese literature, particularly the works of Wu Cheng'en's novel "Journey to the West."

In more recent history, Jin Yong (1924 – 2018), whose real name was Louis Cha, was a renowned Hong Kong novelist and martial arts novelist. His wuxia novels, which combine elements of Chinese history, folklore, and martial arts, have captivated readers across Asia and beyond.

Jin Xing (born 1967) is a contemporary Chinese dancer, choreographer, and the founder of the Jin Xing Dance Theatre. She is widely recognized as a trailblazer in the Chinese artistic community, breaking barriers and challenging traditional gender norms.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Jin, a name that carries a rich cultural significance and has been associated with various fields, from literature and art to religion and philosophy.

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 Jin was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!