Kimberly
Kimberly is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Cyneburg's woodland clearing or meadow.
Origin and history
Kimberly originated as an English surname derived from place names in England, such as Kimberley in Norfolk, meaning 'Cyneburg's meadow'. It transitioned into a popular feminine given name in the United States during the mid-to-late 20th century. Although its popularity has declined since its peak, it remains a well-known classic name.
Popularity in the United States
846,393 babies in the United States have been named Kimberly since 1880. It ranks #21 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #225.
States where it is most popular
- CA (11.3 %)
- TX (7.2 %)
- NY (5.8 %)
- OH (5.5 %)
- IL (5.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 52 |
| 1940-1950 | 1,189 |
| 1950-1960 | 48,958 |
| 1960-1970 | 259,072 |
| 1970-1980 | 229,097 |
| 1980-1990 | 146,452 |
| 1990-2000 | 77,879 |
| 2000-2010 | 48,494 |
| 2010-2019 | 27,264 |
| 2020-2029 | 7,936 |
Famous people named Kimberly
- Kimberly Williams-Paisley: Actress, Producer
- Kimberly Guilfoyle: Television Personality, Attorney
- Kimberly Elise: Actress
Nicknames
Kim, Kym, Kimmy, Kimmi
Fun facts
- Kimberly was extremely popular in the United States, ranking among the top ten most popular girls' names throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
- The name stems from English villages named Kimberley, which combined the Old English female name Cyneburg with 'leah' (clearing or meadow).