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Jin
Pronounced JEEN /ΛdΚin/Low
Meaning: gold / metal (Chinese ι); 'precious' or 'true' depending on hanja (Korean)Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Jin draws on Chinese and Korean roots: in Chinese it is the character for gold or metal, while in Korean its meaning shifts with the hanja chosen, ranging from 'precious' to 'true'. A single sound can therefore carry different ideas across the two cultures. The Japanese manga artist Jin Kobayashi and footballer Jin Hanato both bear the name in its East Asian setting.
Because the meaning depends on the written character, the name is unusually flexible β parents pick the sense by choosing the script. Its short, clean sound travels easily beyond Asia.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- β
Jin Kobayashi (1977βpresent)Japanese manga artist, creator of School Rumble.
- β
Jin Hanato (1990βpresent)Japanese footballer, forward in the J.League.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Jin mean?
Jin most commonly means 'gold' or 'metal' in Chinese (ι); in Korean its meaning varies by hanja, including 'precious' or 'true.'
How do you pronounce Jin?
It's commonly said JEEN /ΛdΚin/.
Is Jin a boy or girl name?
In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Jin is used as a boy name.
How popular is Jin?
In 2024, Jin ranked #2602 in the U.S. for boys, with 51 births recorded.