Ximena

hee-MEH-nah

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The name Ximena means “one who hears, hearkening.” It comes from the Spanish language tradition.

Ximena is the medieval Spanish form of Jimena, derived from the Basque name Semen. Jimena Díaz was the historical wife of El Cid, the legendary Spanish hero. The X spelling reflects the archaic Castilian pronunciation. Ximena has become hugely popular across Latin America.

Wikipedia calls Jimeno or Ximeno, of which Ximena is the female form, a Spanish or Basque name of unknown meaning, associated with — but not proven to derive from — the Basque Semen. Wiktionary describes it as the female equivalent of Semeno, from a Basque root glossed as son. Wikipedia separately notes Ximena is now often treated as a form of Simone, though it states the two names' origins are in fact distinct.

Beyond its documented use since the Middle Ages, the sources here give no further history; Wikipedia records only that the French rendering of the name is Chimène.

• Ximena Sariñana (Mexican singer-songwriter)
• Ximena Navarrete (Miss Universe 2010)

Sibling names that share Ximena's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.