Fun Facts About the Name Jin
- More than 1 thousand babies named Jin: U.S. records list 1,845 babies given the name Jin from 1880 through 2025. Even 385 girls received the name Jin - about 1 girl for every 4 boys.
What Does the Name Jin Mean?
Jin is a one-syllable name used in several unrelated naming traditions. In Mandarin Chinese, the romanization Jin can represent different characters, so the meaning depends on the character chosen. Common given-name characters include 金 (jīn, "gold" or "metal"), 锦 (jǐn, "brocade"), 津 (jīn, "ford"), 晋 (jìn, "advance" and the name of an ancient state), and 瑾 (jǐn, "fine jade"). These are separate words, not variations of a single root.
In Korean, Jin (진) is usually a Sino-Korean syllable written with a hanja chosen by the family. Common hanja include 眞 or 真 (jin, "true" or "truth"), 珍 (jin, "treasure"), 進 (jin, "advance"), and 辰 (jin, one of the twelve earthly branches). The sound alone does not fix the meaning; the character does. "Truth" is a frequent dictionary gloss for the element, but it is not the only possible meaning.
In Japanese, Jin (じん) is a reading of several kanji used in personal names. The most common is 仁 (jin), meaning "benevolence" or "humanity," a Confucian virtue. Other kanji, such as 神 (jin, "god" or "spirit") and 陣 (jin, "camp" or "formation"), can also be read this way in names or compounds. Japanese name readings are not determined by sound alone, so these are distinct name elements rather than one etymology.
Jin Name History & Origins
Chinese characters pronounced jīn or jǐn have long histories as words and name elements. 金 appears in ancient Chinese texts as the word for metal and gold; it is also a common Chinese surname and can be used in given names. 晋 was the name of a Zhou-dynasty state and later of the Jin dynasty (265 - 420) and other states, which gave the character a historical and political association. 锦, "brocade," has been used in Chinese names as a word for a valuable textile. The romanization Jin reflects the Mandarin pronunciation; in earlier forms of Chinese the pronunciation differed.
Korean given names using Jin developed within the Sino-Korean naming system, in which Chinese characters were adapted to Korean pronunciation. The syllable appears in names recorded in Korean history, including royal names of the Silla period such as King Jinheung (眞興王, 6th century) and Queen Jindeok (眞德女王, 7th century). In later Korean naming, Jin has been used as either the first or second syllable of a two-syllable given name, with the hanja selected to carry a specific meaning. Because Korean names are usually formed from Sino-Korean elements, the history of Jin in Korea is tied to the broader use of hanja in Korean personal names.
In Japan, Jin as a name reading comes from kanji compounds and from the Sino-Japanese reading of characters such as 仁. That character entered Japanese naming through Confucian and Buddhist learning, where benevolence was a central virtue. Japanese given names can be written with one or more kanji, and the reading Jin may correspond to different characters, so the name's history in Japan is not a single line of descent but a set of character-based naming practices.
How Popular is the Name Jin?
Jin has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2023. Its best rank was #2,203 in 2023.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | #10,608 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #14,256 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #14,578 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #15,481 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #17,806 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #15,823 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #15,687 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #15,867 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #14,520 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #10,436 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #12,912 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #9,753 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #10,258 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #11,807 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #9,124 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #7,944 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #9,486 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #8,477 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #7,470 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #9,130 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #14,395 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #5,115 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1993 | #9,988 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #8,348 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #6,389 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1990 | #8,147 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #5,398 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1988 | #5,734 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1987 | #6,507 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1986 | #8,940 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #7,876 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #5,675 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #5,266 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #7,123 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #5,392 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1979 | #5,908 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #8,985 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #10,260 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #6,260 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1975 | #6,761 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #7,764 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,433 | 56 | 0.0033% |
| 2024 | #2,602 | 51 | 0.0030% |
| 2023 | #2,203 | 65 | 0.0038% |
| 2022 | #2,534 | 54 | 0.0031% |
| 2021 | #2,565 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2020 | #3,688 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2019 | #3,453 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2018 | #3,132 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 2017 | #3,548 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2016 | #3,560 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2015 | #2,785 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 2014 | #3,126 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 2013 | #3,026 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 2012 | #2,428 | 52 | 0.0027% |
| 2011 | #4,042 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2010 | #2,848 | 42 | 0.0022% |
| 2009 | #3,243 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2008 | #3,456 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2007 | #2,779 | 43 | 0.0021% |
| 2006 | #2,639 | 45 | 0.0022% |
| 2005 | #2,776 | 39 | 0.0020% |
| 2004 | #2,866 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 2003 | #2,409 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 2002 | #3,503 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2001 | #3,456 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2000 | #4,127 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #3,062 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1998 | #4,514 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1997 | #6,340 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #3,067 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1995 | #3,621 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1994 | #2,895 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1993 | #2,427 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1992 | #2,433 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1991 | #3,055 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1990 | #4,536 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1989 | #2,438 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1988 | #3,603 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #2,772 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1986 | #3,341 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1985 | #3,141 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #3,567 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #2,993 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1982 | #3,195 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #3,125 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #4,708 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #4,223 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #6,255 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #3,715 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #4,655 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1975 | #5,098 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1974 | #3,227 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1973 | #5,452 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #3,794 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #4,483 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1964 | #3,817 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #3,511 | 7 | 0.0003% |
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.
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How the Name Jin 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 find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Jin's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Jin's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.