Jim is a short form of the name James, which is of English origin and means "supplanter." The name James is derived from the Latin name Jacobus, which in turn was borrowed from the Hebrew name Ya'akov. In the Bible, Ya'akov is the given name of the patriarch Jacob, who was born holding onto his twin brother Esau's heel, hence his name meaning "he shall supplant." The name James became popular among Christians after it was borne by two early Christian saints, James the Great and James the Less, both disciples of Jesus Christ. Throughout history, numerous kings and nobles have carried the name James, including several Scottish monarchs, contributing to its enduring popularity. Today, Jim remains a widely recognized and used short form of the name James in English-speaking countries around the world.
The given statistics illustrate the fluctuations in the popularity of the name Jim in the United States over a span of nearly 140 years, from 1880 to 2023.
From 1880 to around 1930, the number of births with the name Jim remained relatively consistent, ranging from approximately 250 to 1500 births per year. However, starting in 1934, we see a significant increase in popularity, with over 2000 births each year for several years.
The peak of this trend occurred between 1942 and 1947, during which time the number of births named Jim ranged from approximately 3500 to over 4600 per year. This period coincides with World War II, suggesting that patriotic or historical factors may have contributed to the rise in popularity of this name.
After 1947, the popularity of the name Jim began a steady decline, dropping below 2000 births per year by 1956. Throughout the latter half of the twentieth century and into the early twenty-first century, the number of births with the name Jim continued to decrease, reaching an all-time low of just 26 births in 2023.
Overall, while the name Jim experienced periods of popularity and decline over the years, it is clear that its use has become quite rare in recent times. Nonetheless, these statistics provide an interesting snapshot into the ebb and flow of naming trends in the United States throughout history.