♡
Why parents love Kimberly- The Kimberley diamond mines give it a sparkling, precious association.
- Kim is one of the most recognisable nicknames in the world.
- Three syllables with a bright, confident rhythm: KIM-ber-lee.
- It defined the 60s-70s — enormous generational significance.
- It's dropped far enough to feel distinctive again for new parents.
◎
The vibe of Kimberly
diamondbright70sconfidentsparklinggenerationalAmericanpolished
◎
Origin & history of Kimberly
Old English Cyneburg (royal fortress)
→ English place name Kimberley
→ South African Kimberley (diamond city)
→ given name Kimberly
1
English roots
Kimberly comes from an English place name meaning Cyneburg's meadow (from the Old English for royal fortress). The South African city of Kimberley was named in 1873 after the 1st Earl of Kimberley and became the centre of the world diamond industry. The siege of Kimberley during the Boer War (1899-1900) put the name in headlines worldwide. As a girl's name, Kimberly surged dramatically in the 1960s, reaching number two by 1966 and staying in the top 10 for over a decade. Kim Kardashian and Kim Basinger have kept the nickname visible across generations.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: The place name dates to the Domesday Book (1086); given-name usage surged after the Boer War (1899-1902) and the Siege of Kimberley.
3
Today
Kimberly remains a beloved choice, ranking #186 in the US. 849,647 babies have been named Kimberly since 1933.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, Britannica, SSA data
◆
How popular is Kimberly?
1970
peak year
Kimberly was a name of the 1970s. Through that decade it averaged #10 nationally — one of the era's most chosen names. In 1970, 34,133 babies were given the name — making it the #3 most popular name in the United States that year. In the present decade it sits around #186, with about 1,720 babies given the name annually. Kimberly has been declining in recent years. The all-time total comes to roughly 849,647 registrations.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
34,133
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #3)
(ranked #3)
1,720
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
17,200
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
849,647
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
✦
Numerology of Kimberly5
Life path number
The Adventurer
Freedom, adventure and curiosity.
Kimberly's Life Path 9 is the humanitarian's number — broadening the name's diamond associations into generosity. People named Kimberly tend to be warm, polished, and generous with their sparkle. They shine and share the light.
♡
Generous sparkle✦
Polished and warm◈
Shares her light◎
Diamond resilience♡
Bright generosityK2
I9
M4
B2
E5
R9
L3
Y7
Sum: 41 → Life path 5
♡
Personality of Kimberly🌍
Free spirit
Adventure calls and they always answer.
⚡
Electric energy
Things happen around them — exciting, unexpected.
🦋
Adaptable
New situations are opportunities, never threats.
💬
Natural charmer
There's something magnetic about them.
◆
Famous people named KimberlyClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
K
Kim Kardashian
Media mogul, businesswoman, and cultural icon.
K
Kim Basinger
Academy Award-winning actress.
K
Kimberley, South Africa
Diamond capital of the world, namesake of the given name.
K
Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Actress known for Father of the Bride.
K
Kimberly Clark
Major consumer goods company.
◎
If you like Kimberly, you may also love◎
Names that sound like KimberlyIf you love Kimberly, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
♩
Names that combine with KimberlySibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Kimberly.
♡
Middle names for KimberlyThe right middle name turns Kimberly into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Kimberly? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Kimberly →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
Kimberly is a beautiful choice.
Save it to your list, share it with your partner, or keep exploring.