Fun Facts About the Name Jimmy
- A favorite of earlier generations: Jimmy appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 45 years. Its last run lasted 1 consecutive years, from 1977 through 1977.
- More than 290 thousand babies named Jimmy: U.S. records list 290,942 babies given the name Jimmy from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,218 girls received the name Jimmy - about 1 girl for every 130 boys.
What Does the Name Jimmy Mean?
Jimmy is an English pet form of James, so it carries the meaning of the name behind it: traditionally supplanter, or more literally heel-grabber. The chain begins with the Hebrew name Ya'aqov (יַעֲקֹב), which the book of Genesis links to the noun 'aqev, "heel," and the verb 'aqav, "to seize by the heel" or "to supplant." The birth story in which Jacob grasps his twin brother's heel supplies that wordplay, and Genesis 27:36 later has Esau declare, "Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times." The Hebrew name entered Greek as Iakōbos (Ἰάκωβος) and Latin as Iacobus and Iacomus, the source of English James. Jimmy simply adds the familiar English -y ending to the short form Jim; that ending contributes affection or familiarity rather than any meaning of its own.
Jimmy Name History & Origins
The parent name reached English through Old French James (also spelled Jaimes), which grew out of Late Latin Iacomus, a variant of Iacobus. Latin Iacobus came from the Greek Iakōbos, the form used in the New Testament for two of Jesus's apostles, James son of Zebedee and James son of Alphaeus. Those apostolic associations helped make the name common across Christian Europe, and it was well established in England by the Middle Ages.
The shortened forms belong to a later, distinctively English habit of turning longer given names into familiar ones with -y or -ie, as with Tommy from Thomas, Johnny from John, and Charlie from Charles. Jim arose first as a clipped form of James, and Jimmy was then built on it. The spelling Jimmie also appears. Today Jimmy functions both as a nickname for James and as a given name in its own right, especially in English-speaking countries.
How Popular is the Name Jimmy?
Jimmy ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1931 through 1974, then returned in 1977 and remained through 1977.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | #16,631 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #16,144 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #11,679 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #14,755 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #14,489 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #8,411 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #9,060 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #9,887 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #12,148 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #5,387 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1989 | #5,663 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #4,727 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1987 | #4,942 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #3,589 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1985 | #4,040 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #3,652 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1983 | #3,866 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1982 | #4,237 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1981 | #3,786 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1980 | #4,825 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1979 | #3,188 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1978 | #3,143 | 25 | 0.0016% |
| 1977 | #3,313 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1976 | #2,568 | 31 | 0.0021% |
| 1975 | #3,202 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1974 | #2,787 | 26 | 0.0018% |
| 1973 | #3,060 | 22 | 0.0015% |
| 1972 | #2,846 | 24 | 0.0016% |
| 1971 | #2,307 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1970 | #2,248 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1969 | #2,316 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1968 | #2,103 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 1967 | #1,831 | 41 | 0.0025% |
| 1966 | #2,617 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1965 | #2,498 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1964 | #2,052 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1963 | #2,389 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1962 | #1,767 | 42 | 0.0021% |
| 1961 | #1,904 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 1960 | #2,030 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1959 | #1,774 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1958 | #1,962 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1957 | #1,694 | 41 | 0.0020% |
| 1956 | #1,814 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1955 | #1,650 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 1954 | #2,000 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1953 | #1,800 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1952 | #1,724 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1951 | #1,717 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 1950 | #1,589 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 1949 | #1,613 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1948 | #1,654 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1947 | #1,196 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 1946 | #1,634 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 1945 | #1,323 | 37 | 0.0028% |
| 1944 | #1,211 | 43 | 0.0032% |
| 1943 | #1,313 | 39 | 0.0028% |
| 1942 | #1,459 | 32 | 0.0024% |
| 1941 | #1,400 | 31 | 0.0026% |
| 1940 | #1,361 | 31 | 0.0027% |
| 1939 | #1,493 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1938 | #1,278 | 33 | 0.0030% |
| 1937 | #1,168 | 38 | 0.0036% |
| 1936 | #1,280 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1935 | #1,212 | 35 | 0.0033% |
| 1934 | #1,089 | 42 | 0.0040% |
| 1933 | #1,213 | 35 | 0.0035% |
| 1932 | #981 | 52 | 0.0049% |
| 1931 | #1,356 | 30 | 0.0028% |
| 1930 | #1,418 | 30 | 0.0027% |
| 1929 | #1,618 | 24 | 0.0021% |
| 1928 | #1,409 | 31 | 0.0027% |
| 1927 | #1,646 | 26 | 0.0022% |
| 1926 | #1,561 | 28 | 0.0024% |
| 1925 | #1,483 | 31 | 0.0025% |
| 1924 | #1,836 | 23 | 0.0018% |
| 1923 | #2,531 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1922 | #3,050 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1921 | #4,766 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #2,662 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1919 | #2,321 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1918 | #1,994 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1917 | #3,513 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1916 | #2,314 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1915 | #2,615 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1914 | #2,753 | 8 | 0.0011% |
| 1913 | #1,957 | 11 | 0.0018% |
| 1911 | #2,663 | 5 | 0.0012% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #847 | 291 | 0.0170% |
| 2024 | #859 | 282 | 0.0164% |
| 2023 | #821 | 298 | 0.0174% |
| 2022 | #777 | 325 | 0.0186% |
| 2021 | #755 | 334 | 0.0191% |
| 2020 | #727 | 340 | 0.0197% |
| 2019 | #673 | 385 | 0.0215% |
| 2018 | #654 | 392 | 0.0216% |
| 2017 | #594 | 460 | 0.0249% |
| 2016 | #557 | 517 | 0.0273% |
| 2015 | #575 | 488 | 0.0255% |
| 2014 | #522 | 536 | 0.0279% |
| 2013 | #480 | 574 | 0.0304% |
| 2012 | #462 | 589 | 0.0311% |
| 2011 | #418 | 667 | 0.0351% |
| 2010 | #373 | 771 | 0.0402% |
| 2009 | #368 | 824 | 0.0415% |
| 2008 | #355 | 882 | 0.0432% |
| 2007 | #332 | 961 | 0.0463% |
| 2006 | #325 | 988 | 0.0481% |
| 2005 | #303 | 1,086 | 0.0544% |
| 2004 | #280 | 1,134 | 0.0571% |
| 2003 | #278 | 1,126 | 0.0570% |
| 2002 | #266 | 1,170 | 0.0603% |
| 2001 | #277 | 1,106 | 0.0569% |
| 2000 | #272 | 1,189 | 0.0605% |
| 1999 | #272 | 1,097 | 0.0571% |
| 1998 | #265 | 1,088 | 0.0569% |
| 1997 | #244 | 1,228 | 0.0651% |
| 1996 | #223 | 1,361 | 0.0718% |
| 1995 | #220 | 1,355 | 0.0712% |
| 1994 | #210 | 1,373 | 0.0711% |
| 1993 | #199 | 1,528 | 0.0779% |
| 1992 | #200 | 1,555 | 0.0779% |
| 1991 | #184 | 1,732 | 0.0857% |
| 1990 | #172 | 1,788 | 0.0871% |
| 1989 | #175 | 1,745 | 0.0872% |
| 1988 | #161 | 1,731 | 0.0904% |
| 1987 | #155 | 1,810 | 0.0969% |
| 1986 | #150 | 1,820 | 0.0988% |
| 1985 | #149 | 1,867 | 0.1010% |
| 1984 | #134 | 2,069 | 0.1146% |
| 1983 | #127 | 2,089 | 0.1165% |
| 1982 | #132 | 2,090 | 0.1152% |
| 1981 | #129 | 2,096 | 0.1170% |
| 1980 | #126 | 2,205 | 0.1236% |
| 1979 | #123 | 2,233 | 0.1297% |
| 1978 | #118 | 2,168 | 0.1320% |
| 1977 | #98 | 2,636 | 0.1604% |
| 1976 | #101 | 2,496 | 0.1591% |
| 1975 | #112 | 2,357 | 0.1509% |
| 1974 | #99 | 2,569 | 0.1634% |
| 1973 | #95 | 2,735 | 0.1755% |
| 1972 | #97 | 2,933 | 0.1809% |
| 1971 | #93 | 3,315 | 0.1874% |
| 1970 | #86 | 3,659 | 0.1969% |
| 1969 | #78 | 3,757 | 0.2101% |
| 1968 | #77 | 3,812 | 0.2193% |
| 1967 | #74 | 4,021 | 0.2306% |
| 1966 | #77 | 4,237 | 0.2376% |
| 1965 | #81 | 4,532 | 0.2436% |
| 1964 | #79 | 4,911 | 0.2464% |
| 1963 | #78 | 5,040 | 0.2482% |
| 1962 | #75 | 5,519 | 0.2668% |
| 1961 | #71 | 5,748 | 0.2706% |
| 1960 | #69 | 5,818 | 0.2729% |
| 1959 | #69 | 5,829 | 0.2731% |
| 1958 | #73 | 5,615 | 0.2646% |
| 1957 | #77 | 5,669 | 0.2628% |
| 1956 | #78 | 5,346 | 0.2527% |
| 1955 | #78 | 5,037 | 0.2445% |
| 1954 | #74 | 5,326 | 0.2612% |
| 1953 | #72 | 5,310 | 0.2692% |
| 1952 | #72 | 5,311 | 0.2732% |
| 1951 | #62 | 5,687 | 0.3020% |
| 1950 | #55 | 5,761 | 0.3218% |
| 1949 | #53 | 6,417 | 0.3617% |
| 1948 | #50 | 6,926 | 0.3947% |
| 1947 | #44 | 7,881 | 0.4308% |
| 1946 | #42 | 7,128 | 0.4389% |
| 1945 | #41 | 6,159 | 0.4576% |
| 1944 | #41 | 6,320 | 0.4637% |
| 1943 | #42 | 6,444 | 0.4515% |
| 1942 | #47 | 5,948 | 0.4307% |
| 1941 | #45 | 5,337 | 0.4345% |
| 1940 | #44 | 4,962 | 0.4281% |
| 1939 | #43 | 4,752 | 0.4293% |
| 1938 | #45 | 4,730 | 0.4265% |
| 1937 | #45 | 4,517 | 0.4235% |
| 1936 | #46 | 4,213 | 0.4062% |
| 1935 | #47 | 4,172 | 0.4006% |
| 1934 | #56 | 3,696 | 0.3579% |
| 1933 | #64 | 2,932 | 0.2957% |
| 1932 | #76 | 2,461 | 0.2357% |
| 1931 | #89 | 2,125 | 0.2044% |
| 1930 | #102 | 1,800 | 0.1640% |
| 1929 | #115 | 1,489 | 0.1384% |
| 1928 | #138 | 1,226 | 0.1107% |
| 1927 | #158 | 993 | 0.0881% |
| 1926 | #166 | 882 | 0.0794% |
| 1925 | #198 | 708 | 0.0634% |
| 1924 | #250 | 529 | 0.0467% |
| 1923 | #268 | 439 | 0.0401% |
| 1922 | #288 | 381 | 0.0350% |
| 1921 | #297 | 361 | 0.0328% |
| 1920 | #325 | 324 | 0.0304% |
| 1919 | #374 | 239 | 0.0244% |
| 1918 | #416 | 198 | 0.0195% |
| 1917 | #427 | 177 | 0.0191% |
| 1916 | #431 | 172 | 0.0193% |
| 1915 | #472 | 136 | 0.0160% |
| 1914 | #478 | 103 | 0.0157% |
| 1913 | #443 | 94 | 0.0183% |
| 1912 | #442 | 79 | 0.0184% |
| 1911 | #433 | 45 | 0.0199% |
| 1910 | #361 | 51 | 0.0263% |
| 1909 | #380 | 40 | 0.0244% |
| 1908 | #417 | 33 | 0.0214% |
| 1907 | #431 | 29 | 0.0198% |
| 1906 | #318 | 43 | 0.0323% |
| 1905 | #441 | 25 | 0.0189% |
| 1904 | #398 | 28 | 0.0219% |
| 1903 | #387 | 26 | 0.0218% |
| 1902 | #516 | 18 | 0.0147% |
| 1901 | #458 | 18 | 0.0169% |
| 1900 | #332 | 42 | 0.0279% |
| 1899 | #531 | 14 | 0.0132% |
| 1898 | #515 | 17 | 0.0139% |
| 1897 | #705 | 10 | 0.0089% |
| 1896 | #569 | 14 | 0.0117% |
| 1895 | #626 | 12 | 0.0102% |
| 1894 | #528 | 15 | 0.0130% |
| 1893 | #733 | 9 | 0.0080% |
| 1892 | #771 | 9 | 0.0074% |
| 1891 | #539 | 12 | 0.0119% |
| 1890 | #619 | 11 | 0.0099% |
| 1889 | #1,040 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1888 | #1,109 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1884 | #817 | 7 | 0.0061% |
| 1883 | #765 | 7 | 0.0067% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Jimmy
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Jimmy Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are honest, benevolent, brilliant and often inventive, full of high inspirations. You are courageous, honest, determined, original and creative. You are a leader, especially for a cause. Sometimes you do not care to finish what you start, and may leave details to others. You can do well in position of authority, and prospers in intellectual and professional fields. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Jimmy's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Jimmy's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.