Joaquin
wah-KEEN /wɑːˈkiːn/
Meaning of Joaquin
Joaquin is the Spanish form of the Hebrew יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehoiakim): yeho (a form of Yahweh) + yakim ('will establish, will raise'). In Catholic and Orthodox tradition, Joaquin (Joachim) is the name of the father of the Virgin Mary — not named in canonical scripture but recorded in the apocryphal Gospel of James. The name is heavily associated with Mexican-American culture in the US.
How to pronounce Joaquin
The J is silent in the Spanish-style English pronunciation — the word begins as if spelled Wah-KEEN.
Current popularity of Joaquin
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #155 |
| Mexico (INEGI) | 2024 | #15 |
Notable bearers of Joaquin
Saint Joachim (father of the Virgin Mary, tradition); Joaquin Phoenix (actor); Joaquin Murrieta (folk hero).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Joaquin — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31