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Kimala

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Kimala

Pronounced kih-MAH-luh /kɪˈmɑː.lə/Medium

Meaning: Kimala stretches Kim into three syllables with an -ala ending, sounding close to Kamala. Kim, from Kimberly, traces to an English place name; the -ala tail echoes Sanskrit Kamala, 'lotus,' though Kimala itself is best read as a sound-driven elaboration.Low

In 30 seconds: Kimala is an elaboration of Kim with an -ala ending; it was given to only a couple dozen girls a year, peaking in the early 1960s (said kih-MAH-luh).

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Origin LowEnglish, Sanskrit

MeaningKimala stretches Kim into three syllables with an -ala ending, sounding close to Kamala. Kim, from Kimberly, traces to an English place name; the -ala tail echoes Sanskrit Kamala, 'lotus,' though Kimala itself is best read as a sound-driven elaboration.

U.S. rank (1982)#11331 ↘ Falling

1982 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1961

Total births (all-time)≈ 326

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Kimala is an ornamental extension of Kim, the massively popular 1960s short form of Kimberly. The added -ala ending gives it three flowing syllables and an echo of Kamala, the Sanskrit word for lotus, though the name is better understood as a coined elaboration than a direct borrowing.

It was never common, given to only a couple dozen girls a year at its early-1960s peak and gone by the early 1980s. A Kimala from that time is in her sixties now; it reads as a period elaboration of Kim rather than a revival.

Did you know? Kimala rides the huge early-1960s popularity of Kim, lengthening the short favorite into something that chimes with Kamala and Pamala.

Overall data confidence 30%

References - Kimala — Elaboration of Kim (Kimberly) + -ala; echo of Sanskrit Kamala 'lotus'

Variations

KimallaKymalaKimelaKimala

Nicknames

KimMala

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kimala…

Kamala— the like-sounding lotus name

Pamala— a same -ala elaboration

Kimberly— the source of Kim

Tamala— a like coined -ala name

Explore names like Kimala

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Kimala mean?

It is an elaboration of Kim (from Kimberly) with an -ala ending, echoing Kamala.

How do you pronounce Kimala?

It's said kih-MAH-luh /kɪˈmɑː.lə/, three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Kimala a boy or girl name?

Kimala is used as a girl's name.

Is Kimala a popular name?

No, it stayed rare, an elaboration of Kim seen mostly in the early nineteen-sixties.