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Kimberly

♀ Girl

Pronounced KIM-ber-lee /ˈkɪm.bər.li/High

Meaning: Royal forest meadow; from the South African city of Kimberley, named after Lord Kimberley; Old English cyneburh (royal fortress) + leah (meadow)High

In 30 seconds: A place-name surname meaning 'royal forest meadow,' named for the South African city of Kimberley. A mid-20th-century phenomenon that was the #2 U.S. girls' name in the 1960s.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningRoyal forest meadow; from the South African city of Kimberley, named after Lord Kimberley; Old English cyneburh (royal fortress) + leah (meadow)
Peak year1970
Total births (all-time)≈ 835,149

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 197019332017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Kimberly is derived from the Old English place-name elements cyneburh ('royal fortress') and leah ('woodland clearing, meadow'). The city of Kimberley in the Northern Cape, South Africa, was named in 1871 after Lord Kimberley. The surname gave rise to the first name, which began appearing in the United States in the early 20th century.

Kimberly rose to prominence in the 1950s and peaked in the 1960s when it was the #2 U.S. girls' name (1966). It remained in the top 20 through the early 1980s. Since then it has declined but persists as a recognizable classic associated with a specific generation (Baby Boomers and Generation X).

Did you know? The city of Kimberley, South Africa — site of the world's largest diamond mine — was named after Lord Kimberley (John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley), British Colonial Secretary in 1871.

Variations

KimberleeKimberleighKimberlie

Nicknames

KimKimberKimmy

Famous Bearers

  • ★Kimberly Williams-Paisley (b. 1971)
    American actress known for <em>Father of the Bride</em> (1991) and wife of country singer Brad Paisley.

If you like Kimberly…

Ashley— similarly peaked surname-name from the same era

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kimberly mean?

Kimberly means 'royal forest meadow' from Old English, via the South African city of Kimberley named after Lord Kimberley in 1871.

How do you pronounce Kimberly?

Kimberly is pronounced KIM-ber-lee (/ˈkɪm.bər.li/) — three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Kimberly a boy or girl name?

Kimberly is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Kimberly?

Kimberly peaked as the #2 U.S. girls' name in 1966 and remained in the top 20 through the early 1980s. It has since declined but remains a recognized classic.