UK name, mostly boys
Jin
A masculine name of Korean and Chinese origin meaning "true/real/genuine".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Jin is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Jin popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 15 births.
This profile covers 182 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 20% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 181 living people in the UK are called Jin. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Jin ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 15 boys were registered as Jin.
- • About 181 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jin as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 86.7% of Jin registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
15 births
Estimated living
181
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Jin
In England and Wales birth records, Jin has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 86.7% of registrations are for boys and 13.3% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Jin registered for boys
- Ranked #5,119 in 2024
- 3 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2008 (15 births)
Jin registered for girls
- Ranked #5,666 in 2018
- 3 girls registered in 2018
- Peak: 2007 (5 births)
Meaning
What does Jin mean?
The name Jin is derived from the Chinese language and has its origins dating back to ancient times. It is a unisex name that can be used for both males and females.
Jin is a Chinese word that means "gold" or "golden," representing wealth, prosperity, and radiance. The name is believed to have been used as early as the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC – 1046 BC) in ancient China.
In Chinese mythology, Jin is associated with the Golden Crow, a sacred bird that was believed to possess divine powers. The name Jin is also found in various Chinese literary works and historical records from the past.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jin is Jin Xuan, a famous calligrapher and scholar who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD – 220 AD). Jin Xuan was renowned for her exceptional calligraphic skills and played a significant role in the development of the cursive script in China.
Another notable figure with the name Jin is Jin Hui, a Buddhist monk who lived during the Tang Dynasty (618 AD – 907 AD). Jin Hui was a prominent figure in the Chan (Zen) Buddhist tradition and is remembered for his teachings on the nature of enlightenment.
During the Song Dynasty (960 AD – 1279 AD), Jin Shengtan was a famous literary critic and scholar known for his insightful commentaries on classical Chinese literature, particularly the works of Wu Cheng'en's novel "Journey to the West."
In more recent history, Jin Yong (1924 – 2018), whose real name was Louis Cha, was a renowned Hong Kong novelist and martial arts novelist. His wuxia novels, which combine elements of Chinese history, folklore, and martial arts, have captivated readers across Asia and beyond.
Jin Xing (born 1967) is a contemporary Chinese dancer, choreographer, and the founder of the Jin Xing Dance Theatre. She is widely recognized as a trailblazer in the Chinese artistic community, breaking barriers and challenging traditional gender norms.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Jin, a name that carries a rich cultural significance and has been associated with various fields, from literature and art to religion and philosophy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Jin over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Jin in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Jin, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jin by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jin was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4071 | 23 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2660 | 78 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2229 | 68 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2345 | 13 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Jin
- Jack 188,738
- Joshua 145,192
- James 141,878
- Joseph 102,259
- Jacob 93,754
- Jake 66,896
- Jamie 41,243
- Jordan 36,750
- Jayden 28,921
- Jude 24,156
- John 22,240
- Joe 19,164
FAQ
Jin: questions and answers
How popular is the name Jin in the UK right now?
In 2024, Jin was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Jin most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 15 babies registered as Jin in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Jin?
A masculine name of Korean and Chinese origin meaning "true/real/genuine".
How many people are called Jin in the UK?
A total of 182 babies have been registered as Jin across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.