Kim Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: kim //kɪm//
Origin: English; Korean
Meaning: English: short form of Kimberly; Korean: gold or metal
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Kim has its origins in multiple linguistic traditions, primarily deriving from the Old English word "cyme," which means "a sprout" or "a shoot." This word evolved through various forms, including the Middle English "kim" and eventually became a surname in England. The name Kim can also be traced to Korean roots, where it is a common family name, derived from the Hanja characters 金, meaning "gold." In this context, it has been used since at least the 7th century, when the Silla kingdom adopted it as a royal family name, signifying wealth and nobility.
Historically, the name Kim has been associated with notable figures across cultures. In England, the surname became prominent in the medieval period, often linked to families of landowners or those of noble descent.
In Korea, the Kim family name is one of the most prevalent, with significant historical figures such as Kim Il-sung, the founding leader of North Korea, and Kim Jong-il, his son, shaping the modern political landscape. The name has also appeared in various literary works, including Rudyard Kipling's novel "Kim" from the early 20th century, which explores themes of identity and cultural intersection in British India.
Culturally, the name Kim carries various symbolic meanings. In English-speaking contexts, it has often been used as a diminutive or nickname for names like Kimberly or Kimball, reflecting a trend of shortening longer names for familiarity.
In Korean culture, the name Kim symbolizes strength and resilience, often associated with the rich heritage of the Korean people. The enduring nature of the name across different cultures highlights its adaptability and the deep-rooted significance it holds in various historical and social contexts.
Famous people named Kim
In this section, you will find notable people named Kim. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Kim who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Kim who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Kim Kardashian is a media personality and businesswoman best known for Keeping Up with the Kardashians, KKW Beauty, and Skims.
Kim Basinger is an actress and producer best known for L.A. Confidential, 8 Mile, and Never Say Never Again.
Kim Fields is an actress and director best known for The Facts of Life, Living Single, and The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Kim Novak is an actress best known for Vertigo, Picnic, and The Man with the Golden Arm.
Kim Possible is a fictional character best known as the title character in the animated series Kim Possible.
Kim Zolciak is a television personality best known for The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Don't Be Tardy.
Kim Coates is an actor best known for Sons of Anarchy, The Last Ship, and Prison Break.
Kim Raver is an actress best known for 24, Grey's Anatomy, and Third Watch.
Fictional characters named Kim
The following list of fictional characters named Kim is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Kim Possible is a fictional character from the animated television series Kim Possible. She is a high school student who balances her life as a cheerleader with her role as a teenage crime-fighter.
Kim Wexler is a fictional character from the television series Better Call Saul. She is a talented lawyer who navigates the complexities of her career and personal relationships throughout the series.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kim, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Kim. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Kim was first seen in the United States in 1914.
Kim has ranked as high as #67 nationally, which occurred in 1960, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio.
In the past 5 years the name Kim has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Kim is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Kim was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Kim (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 6 | |
| TX | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Kim.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 28 |
| 2023 | 38 |
| 2022 | 40 |
| 2021 | 39 |
| 2020 | 39 |
| 2019 | 54 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2017 | 47 |
| 2016 | 53 |
| 2015 | 72 |
| 2014 | 69 |
| 2013 | 62 |
| 2012 | 92 |
| 2011 | 50 |
| 2010 | 52 |
| 2009 | 48 |
| 2008 | 64 |
| 2007 | 104 |
| 2006 | 85 |
| 2005 | 73 |
| 2004 | 91 |
| 2003 | 83 |
| 2002 | 111 |
| 2001 | 100 |
| 2000 | 116 |
| 1999 | 133 |
| 1998 | 102 |
| 1997 | 110 |
| 1996 | 129 |
| 1995 | 135 |
| 1994 | 161 |
| 1993 | 185 |
| 1992 | 182 |
| 1991 | 207 |
| 1990 | 256 |
| 1989 | 259 |
| 1988 | 253 |
| 1987 | 280 |
| 1986 | 281 |
| 1985 | 349 |
| 1984 | 388 |
| 1983 | 401 |
| 1982 | 467 |
| 1981 | 536 |
| 1980 | 602 |
| 1979 | 779 |
| 1978 | 823 |
| 1977 | 1,083 |
| 1976 | 1,248 |
| 1975 | 1,481 |
| 1974 | 1,936 |
| 1973 | 2,195 |
| 1972 | 2,741 |
| 1971 | 3,682 |
| 1970 | 4,729 |
| 1969 | 5,451 |
| 1968 | 6,089 |
| 1967 | 7,407 |
| 1966 | 9,194 |
| 1965 | 10,084 |
| 1964 | 9,980 |
| 1963 | 10,681 |
| 1962 | 11,658 |
| 1961 | 11,368 |
| 1960 | 12,474 |
| 1959 | 11,596 |
| 1958 | 10,663 |
| 1957 | 11,427 |
| 1956 | 9,896 |
| 1955 | 5,687 |
| 1954 | 2,926 |
| 1953 | 1,739 |
| 1952 | 1,292 |
| 1951 | 570 |
| 1950 | 285 |
| 1949 | 253 |
| 1948 | 239 |
| 1947 | 255 |
| 1946 | 190 |
| 1945 | 77 |
| 1944 | 84 |
| 1943 | 59 |
| 1942 | 58 |
| 1941 | 38 |
| 1940 | 31 |
| 1939 | 33 |
| 1938 | 34 |
| 1937 | 25 |
| 1936 | 27 |
| 1935 | 20 |
| 1934 | 16 |
| 1933 | 14 |
| 1932 | 14 |
| 1931 | 17 |
| 1930 | 9 |
| 1929 | 13 |
| 1927 | 7 |
| 1926 | 9 |
| 1925 | 8 |
| 1924 | 9 |
| 1923 | 6 |
| 1920 | 5 |
| 1914 | 5 |