Jimmy
Jimmy was the 847th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 291 babies. Its best year was 1944, when it ranked 41st; the most babies were born in 1947 (7,881). Over the last ten years it has moved down 271 places. More babies were named Jimmy in the 1940s than in any other decade.
Meaning pet form of James · English, Hebrew
Say it JIM-ee /ˈdʒɪmi/
- Rank in 2025
- #847 boys, down 120 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 291boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19477,881 babies
- Total since 1880
- 290,955babies recorded
What does the name Jimmy mean?
Jimmy is a pet form of Jim, the short form of James, made with the English -y ending. James comes from Late Latin Iacomus, a form of Iacobus, from Hebrew Yaʿaqov (Jacob). In Genesis 25:26 Jacob is born holding his twin's heel (ʿaqev), and the name is explained by that wordplay. It has been used as an independent name since the 19th century; President Jimmy Carter was born James Earl Carter.
Jim (English, “short form of James”)יַעֲקֹב (Yaʿaqov) (Biblical Hebrew, “Jacob”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: James, Jim, Jimmie, Jamie.
See also: Hebrew names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Jimmy', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Jacob', DMNES (Durham University)
- Hebrew Bible, Genesis 25:26 (Sefaria, with JPS translation), Sefaria
Jimmy popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 2,218 since 1911.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #847 | 291 |
| 2020 | #727 | 340 |
| 2010 | #373 | 772 |
| 2000 | #272 | 1,189 |
| 1990 | #172 | 1,788 |
| 1980 | #126 | 2,205 |
| 1970 | #86 | 3,660 |
| 1960 | #69 | 5,817 |
| 1950 | #55 | 5,761 |
| 1940 | #44 | 4,962 |
| 1930 | #102 | 1,799 |
| 1920 | #325 | 324 |
| 1910 | #361 | 51 |
| 1900 | #332 | 42 |
| 1890 | #619 | 11 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Jimmy, counting every spelling?
Jimmy is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #770 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #847 for Jimmy on its own. Together these spellings went to 321 boys in 2025.
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Jimmy?
291 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Jimmy (0.08 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Jimmy born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 29 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Jimmy.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Jimmy?
About 180,600 people born in the US named Jimmy are alive today, with a median age of 61; half are between 44 and 73. That makes Jimmy a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Jimmy by state
How common Jimmy was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Arkansas (3.5×), Louisiana (2.1×), Georgia (1.7×), Kentucky (1.7×), Arizona (1.6×). In 21 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Jimmy: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Jimmy, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Jimmy · Sibling names for Jimmy
Jimmy is also a nickname for James and Jim.
Questions about the name Jimmy
What does Jimmy mean?
Jimmy means “pet form of James” (English, Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Jimmy?
Jimmy was the 847th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 291 babies. Its best year was 1944, when it ranked 41st; the most babies were born in 1947 (7,881). Over the last ten years it has moved down 271 places. More babies were named Jimmy in the 1940s than in any other decade.
Is Jimmy a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Jimmy in the US.
Where is Jimmy most popular?
In 2021–2025, Jimmy was most common in Arkansas (0.62 per 1,000 boys), followed by Louisiana and Georgia.