Joaquim

The given name Joaquim is a male name with significant historical and religious origins, primarily rooted in Hebrew tradition.

Origin

Joaquim is the Catalan and Portuguese form of the Hebrew name יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehoyaqim). This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, notably borne by Jehoiakim, a king of Judah (2 Kings 23:34). In Christian tradition, Saint Joachim is recognized as the father of the Virgin Mary and thus the maternal grandfather of Jesus Christ. While not mentioned in the canonical Gospels, his story is detailed in apocryphal texts, particularly the Gospel of James.

Meaning

The name Yehoyaqim, from which Joaquim derives, is generally interpreted to mean 'Yahweh will establish,' 'Yahweh raises up,' or 'established by Yahweh.' It is a theophoric name, combining 'Yeho' (יְהוֹ), a shortened form of the divine name Yahweh, with the verb 'qum' (קוּם), meaning 'to rise,' 'to stand up,' or 'to establish.'

Variations and Usage

As the Portuguese and Catalan variant, Joaquim is prevalent in Lusophone and Catalan-speaking regions. Other common forms of the name include Joachim (German, French, English, Scandinavian languages), Joaquín (Spanish), Gioacchino (Italian), and Ioakim (Greek: Ιωακείμ; Russian: Иоаким). The name's enduring popularity is often associated with the veneration of Saint Joachim in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions.