Ximena

About Ximena

Ximena is the Spanish feminine form of the older medieval name Ximeno. Its meaning is uncertain, with both a connection to Simon and a Basque explanation proposed. Pronounced hee-MEH-nah in Spanish, it combines a distinctive initial x with a long historical association through the wife of El Cid.

Medieval roots and modern spelling

Ximeno was used in medieval Spanish or Basque naming. One theory treats it as a form of Simon; another connects it with Basque seme, meaning “son.” The earlier history is not secure enough to assign Ximena one definite literal translation.

Jimena is a closely related spelling, and Jimeno is the corresponding masculine form. In modern Spanish, the initial x in Ximena represents the sound also written j in Jimena. English speakers often approximate it with an h, rather than the z heard in names such as Xander.

The name has three syllables, with its strongest beat in the middle. Its final a remains fully audible in Spanish. The x spelling gives it a visibly different opening from Jimena while preserving the historical connection between the two.

Jimena and El Cid

The name is associated with Jimena Díaz, wife of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid. Their marriage belongs to the eleventh-century history behind one of Spain's best-known medieval figures.

A marriage-gift charter from 1074 records properties Rodrigo granted Jimena. Among them was La Nuez de Abajo, a village in the province of Burgos. That document places her name within the practical world of property and family arrangements, alongside its later familiarity in accounts of El Cid.

The historical association gives Ximena a much older background than its recent American popularity might suggest. The alternative spellings link a contemporary first name with medieval Iberian personal naming.

Ximena Sariñana and music

Mexican singer and songwriter Ximena Sariñana brought the name to international music audiences through her debut album Mediocre. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album at the 2009 ceremony.

Her later work explored several musical directions, including alternative pop, cumbia, R&B, and electronic influences. No Todo Lo Puedes Dar appeared in 2014, followed by further collaborations and recording projects.

Sariñana's career gives Ximena a contemporary creative association alongside its medieval history. Her work as a singer, songwriter, and collaborator places the complete name on records and performance credits, rather than using a separate stage name.

American popularity

Ximena was recorded for only five American girls in 1980 and 125 in 2000. By 2010 the count reached 1,210, ranking #274. Its largest annual female count was 2,680 in 2016, while its strongest ranking was #118 in 2018.

In 2025, 1,686 girls received Ximena, ranking #183. The spelling's American rise has been especially pronounced in the twenty-first century, within a name family whose documented history is considerably older.

How popular is Ximena?

In 2025, Ximena ranked #183 among girls in the United States, with 1,686 recorded uses. The U.S. birth records first list this spelling for girls in 1966; its largest annual count was 2,680 in 2016. Rankings count each spelling separately. They describe national use, so local familiarity can differ. The popularity chart shows whether the name has remained common, returned after a quieter period, or risen recently.