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Jim

Boy name · 81 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Jim: 81 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 9 births in 1976.

Jim is a classic short form of James, ultimately derived from the Hebrew name Ya'aqov, meaning 'supplanter' or 'one who follows'. While it's been used independently for centuries, it remains deeply tied to its longer form. Perhaps the most famous bearer is the Scottish songwriter and performer Jim Diamond, whose 1980s hit 'I Should Have Known' topped the charts. In literature, Jim Hawkins is the young protagonist of Robert Louis Stevenson's *Treasure Island*, and in film, James Stewart's beloved character in *It's a Wonderful Life* is simply called George Bailey, but the actor himself was known universally as Jimmy. Jim is also a common nickname for James in the Scottish Borders, where the name has a warm, down-to-earth feel.