Jimena

Jimena is a Spanish feminine name, the medieval Castilian form of Ximena, itself the feminine equivalent of the Old Spanish masculine name Ximeno. The root of Ximeno is debated, but it is most commonly linked to the Basque name Semen or Semeno, possibly derived from a Basque element meaning son, though some scholars connect it to Latin Sigimundus or Germanic origins. The name is historically associated with Jimena Díaz, the wife of the legendary Castilian hero El Cid, which has kept it firmly rooted in Spanish cultural memory. Related forms include Ximena, the older spelling still used in Spanish-speaking countries, as well as the masculine Jimeno.