Slim
A slang term used to describe someone thin or lean in physique.
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Slim. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Slim today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Slim births was 1918 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Slim. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Slim. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1918
7 babies that year
Average age
-
1918 SSA rank
#3,670
Tracked since 1880
Origin
Meaning and history of Slim
The name Slim is of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "slym," meaning "thin" or "slender." This name gained popularity as a nickname during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often given to individuals who were tall and thin in stature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Slim appears in the 1937 American novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston, where a character named Slim Meat is mentioned. This suggests that the name was in use as a nickname in the African American community during that time period.
In the world of jazz music, Slim is a well-known name. Slim Gaillard (1916-1991) was an American jazz singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for his vocalese style and humorous lyrics. Another notable figure was Slim Harpo (1924-1970), an American blues musician and songwriter best known for his hit song "Raining in My Heart."
The name Slim has also been associated with prominent figures in the entertainment industry. Slim Pickens (1919-1983) was an American actor and rodeo performer who appeared in numerous Western films, including the iconic movie "Dr. Strangelove" (1964). Slim Whitman (1923-2013) was an American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his distinctive vocal style and hits like "Indian Love Call."
In the world of sports, Slim Jim Thorpe (1887-1953) was a renowned American athlete who excelled in various sports, including football, baseball, and track and field. He was considered one of the greatest athletes of the early 20th century and was honored with the prestigious Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the best defensive back in college football.
While the name Slim may have originated as a nickname, it has become a distinct first name in its own right, carrying connotations of slenderness and grace. Its usage has spanned various cultural and artistic realms, leaving an indelible mark on history through the achievements of notable individuals who bore this moniker.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Slim
People
Slim + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Slim as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Slim: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Slim?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Slim going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Slim a common name?
We classify Slim as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Slim most popular?
The single biggest year for Slim was 1918, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Slim is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Slim a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Slim in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.