Kim Unisex

Popularity: #914 · Trend: ↘ Falling

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.

KylieKaraKiraKelseyKaitlynKeira

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.

KimiKiraKylieKaraKathyKendraKarla

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Kim was first seen in the United States in 1912.

Kim has ranked as high as #68 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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 40 6 34
2024 41 13 28
2023 47 9 38
2022 50 10 40
2021 47 8 39
2020 49 10 39
2019 64 10 54
2018 41 5 36
2017 55 8 47
2016 60 7 53
2015 83 11 72
2014 88 19 69
2013 70 8 62
2012 101 9 92
2011 57 7 50
2010 61 9 52
2009 65 17 48
2008 71 7 64
2007 114 10 104
2006 95 10 85
2005 86 13 73
2004 109 18 91
2003 100 17 83
2002 125 14 111
2001 126 26 100
2000 134 18 116
1999 162 29 133
1998 126 24 102
1997 130 20 110
1996 176 47 129
1995 166 31 135
1994 207 46 161
1993 224 39 185
1992 227 45 182
1991 267 60 207
1990 322 66 256
1989 331 72 259
1988 343 90 253
1987 356 76 280
1986 362 81 281
1985 440 91 349
1984 481 93 388
1983 492 91 401
1982 563 96 467
1981 644 108 536
1980 715 113 602
1979 894 115 779
1978 946 123 823
1977 1,214 131 1,083
1976 1,385 137 1,248
1975 1,645 164 1,481
1974 2,097 161 1,936
1973 2,378 183 2,195
1972 2,960 219 2,741
1971 3,949 267 3,682
1970 5,047 318 4,729
1969 5,811 361 5,450
1968 6,497 408 6,089
1967 7,865 457 7,408
1966 9,742 548 9,194
1965 10,694 611 10,083
1964 10,759 779 9,980
1963 11,531 848 10,683
1962 12,573 916 11,657
1961 12,469 1,102 11,367
1960 13,635 1,158 12,477
1959 12,699 1,105 11,594
1958 11,986 1,322 10,664
1957 13,400 1,974 11,426
1956 12,857 2,960 9,897
1955 9,177 3,490 5,687
1954 6,093 3,167 2,926
1953 4,304 2,565 1,739
1952 3,648 2,356 1,292
1951 2,044 1,474 570
1950 1,080 795 285
1949 890 636 254
1948 749 510 239
1947 789 534 255
1946 597 407 190
1945 265 188 77
1944 219 135 84
1943 163 104 59
1942 146 88 58
1941 92 54 38
1940 97 66 31
1939 85 52 33
1938 74 40 34
1937 83 58 25
1936 77 50 27
1935 44 24 20
1934 40 24 16
1933 37 23 14
1932 35 21 14
1931 28 11 17
1930 16 7 9
1929 21 8 13
1928 7 7 0
1927 16 9 7
1926 19 10 9
1925 8 0 8
1924 17 8 9
1923 13 7 6
1922 10 10 0
1921 7 7 0
1920 5 0 5
1918 5 5 0
1915 5 5 0
1914 5 0 5
1913 7 7 0
1912 5 5 0

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NY 6
55%
TX 5
45%