Jimmy in Chinese
Jimmy in Chinese is 吉米 (Jí Mǐ).
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Meaning
- supplanter
Etymologically, Jimmy is Hebrew and is commonly glossed as "supplanter". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1883 and peaked in 1947. Names sharing the same root meaning include James, Jacob, Jamie, Jacqueline.
3 ways to write Jimmy
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
吉米
Jí Mǐ
The standard transliteration of Jimmy: 吉 (jí, "lucky, auspicious"), 米 (mǐ, "rice"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Each character maps to one sound of the English name: 吉 (jí) carries "jim", 米 (mǐ) carries "my". The tone contour is 2-3 (rising, dipping).
Character breakdown
12 strokes total (simplified)- 吉
jí
Tone 2 · 6 strokes (simplified)
lucky, auspicious
- 米
mǐ
Tone 3 · 6 strokes (simplified)
rice
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
博霖
Bó Lín
Inspired by "supplanter": 博 (bó, "broad, learned") + 霖 (lín, "timely rain"), expressing elegance and good character.
Why these characters?
Jimmy's meaning ("supplanter") has no direct Chinese equivalent, so 博 (broad, learned) and 霖 (timely rain) express elegance and good character instead.
Character breakdown
28 strokes total (simplified)- 博
bó
Tone 2 · 12 strokes (simplified)
broad, learned
- 霖
lín
Tone 2 · 16 strokes (simplified)
timely rain
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
杰子
Jié Zǐ
杰 (jié, "outstanding, heroic") + 子 (zǐ, "son, child; master (honorific)"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
Instead of the purely phonetic 吉, this uses 杰 (jié, "outstanding, heroic") for the "jim" sound, then 子 ("son, child; master (honorific)") for meaning.
Character breakdown
11 strokes total (simplified)- 杰
jié
Tone 2 · 8 strokes (simplified)
outstanding, heroic
- 子
zǐ
Tone 3 · 3 strokes (simplified)
son, child; master (honorific)
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 286,014 boys named Jimmy since 1883, with the high point in 1947 (7,877 births) and the busiest decade being the 1940s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #172 to #591 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1947
- Peak decade
- 1940s
- First year
- 1883
- Total since 1880
- 286,014
More About Jimmy in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Jimmy offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Jimmy, you'll find options that work for you.
Names with the same root meaning include James in Chinese, Jacob in Chinese, Jamie in Chinese, Jacqueline in Chinese, Jake in Chinese, and Diego in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in James in Chinese, Jacob in Chinese, and Jamie in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Jacqueline in Chinese, Jake in Chinese, Diego in Chinese, Mathew in Chinese, and Louis in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Jimmy, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Jimmy to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jimmy in Chinese characters?
吉米 (Jí Mǐ), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How many strokes does 吉米 have?
12 strokes in simplified form; per character: 吉 6, 米 6.
How popular is the name Jimmy?
US Social Security records show 286,014 boys named Jimmy since 1883, with the high point in 1947 (7,877 births) and the busiest decade being the 1940s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #172 to #591 among boys.
Related names and spelling variants
Asher
阿舍尔
Hebrew
Carl
卡尔
Germanic
Danny
丹尼
Hebrew
Diego
迭戈
Spanish
Ezra
以斯拉
Hebrew
Jacob
雅各布
Hebrew
Jacqueline
杰奎琳
French/Hebrew
Jake
杰克
Hebrew
James
詹姆斯
Hebrew
Jamie
杰米
Hebrew/Scottish
Lincoln
林肯
English
Louis
路易斯
French/Germanic
Luca
卢卡
Italian, from Luke
Mateo
马特奥
Spanish, from Hebrew via Matthew
Mathew
马修
Hebrew
Maverick
马弗里克
English word name