Kimberly Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: KIM-bər-lee //ˈkɪm.bər.li//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: Cyneburg's field; French: From the wood of the royal fortress
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Kimberly has its roots in Old English, derived from the place name "Cyneburg," which means "royal fortress." The name evolved through various forms, with the earliest recorded usage appearing in the 11th century. The name was influenced by the Old English elements "cyne," meaning "royal," and "burh," meaning "fortress or stronghold." Over time, it transitioned into the Middle English form "Kimberle," before being adopted into modern English as Kimberly in the 20th century.
Historically, the name gained prominence in the 19th century, particularly in England, where it was associated with the town of Kimberley in South Africa, founded in the 1870s during the diamond rush. This connection contributed to the name's spread, as the town became a significant site of wealth and development during the colonial period.
Additionally, the name was popularized in literature and culture, with references in various works that highlighted its noble connotations. Culturally, Kimberly has been associated with strength and leadership, reflecting its etymological roots in royalty and fortification.
The name has also been linked to various notable figures throughout history, including saints and influential women, which has helped to maintain its relevance over the centuries. Diminutive forms such as Kim have emerged, further embedding the name within familial and social contexts.
Overall, Kimberly embodies a blend of historical significance and cultural resonance that has allowed it to endure through time.
Famous people named Kimberly
In this section, you will find notable people named Kimberly. 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 Kimberly who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Kimberly 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.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley is an actress best known for Father of the Bride, According to Jim, and Nashville.
Kimberly Elise is an actress best known for Set It Off, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, and For Colored Girls.
Kimberly Snyder is a nutritionist and author best known for The Beauty Detox Solution, The Beauty Detox Foods, and Radical Beauty.
Fictional characters named Kimberly
The following list of fictional characters named Kimberly 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.
Kimberly Ann Hart is a fictional character from the TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. She is the original Pink Ranger and a skilled martial artist who plays a key role in the team's battles against evil.
Kimberly is a fictional character from the animated series The Amazing World of Gumball. She is a minor character who is known for her cheerful personality and friendship with the main characters.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Kimberly, 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 Kimberly. 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 Kimberly was first seen in the United States in 1933.
Kimberly has ranked as high as #10 nationally, which occurred in 1970, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Ohio, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Kimberly has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Kimberly 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 Kimberly was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Kimberly (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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 217 | |
| CA | 210 | |
| FL | 94 | |
| NY | 64 | |
| NC | 38 | |
| TN | 37 | |
| GA | 36 | |
| IL | 35 | |
| PA | 32 | |
| WA | 30 | |
| VA | 28 | |
| NJ | 27 | |
| KY | 26 | |
| CO | 25 | |
| AZ | 23 |
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 Kimberly.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,285 |
| 2023 | 1,336 |
| 2022 | 1,392 |
| 2021 | 1,350 |
| 2020 | 1,560 |
| 2019 | 1,536 |
| 2018 | 1,705 |
| 2017 | 1,840 |
| 2016 | 2,332 |
| 2015 | 2,843 |
| 2014 | 2,902 |
| 2013 | 3,104 |
| 2012 | 3,316 |
| 2011 | 3,812 |
| 2010 | 3,871 |
| 2009 | 4,228 |
| 2008 | 4,814 |
| 2007 | 5,102 |
| 2006 | 5,010 |
| 2005 | 4,752 |
| 2004 | 4,846 |
| 2003 | 4,825 |
| 2002 | 4,790 |
| 2001 | 4,880 |
| 2000 | 5,244 |
| 1999 | 5,457 |
| 1998 | 5,721 |
| 1997 | 6,182 |
| 1996 | 7,175 |
| 1995 | 7,745 |
| 1994 | 8,747 |
| 1993 | 7,965 |
| 1992 | 8,895 |
| 1991 | 9,799 |
| 1990 | 10,191 |
| 1989 | 11,037 |
| 1988 | 11,949 |
| 1987 | 13,030 |
| 1986 | 14,418 |
| 1985 | 14,913 |
| 1984 | 14,446 |
| 1983 | 15,370 |
| 1982 | 16,101 |
| 1981 | 16,689 |
| 1980 | 18,500 |
| 1979 | 17,637 |
| 1978 | 16,878 |
| 1977 | 18,285 |
| 1976 | 18,962 |
| 1975 | 20,258 |
| 1974 | 22,427 |
| 1973 | 23,531 |
| 1972 | 26,281 |
| 1971 | 30,706 |
| 1970 | 34,133 |
| 1969 | 33,076 |
| 1968 | 31,907 |
| 1967 | 33,096 |
| 1966 | 32,231 |
| 1965 | 28,837 |
| 1964 | 24,131 |
| 1963 | 21,225 |
| 1962 | 20,362 |
| 1961 | 17,356 |
| 1960 | 16,851 |
| 1959 | 12,791 |
| 1958 | 10,710 |
| 1957 | 9,453 |
| 1956 | 6,730 |
| 1955 | 3,862 |
| 1954 | 2,087 |
| 1953 | 1,428 |
| 1952 | 966 |
| 1951 | 486 |
| 1950 | 445 |
| 1949 | 362 |
| 1948 | 315 |
| 1947 | 255 |
| 1946 | 130 |
| 1945 | 26 |
| 1944 | 21 |
| 1943 | 18 |
| 1942 | 25 |
| 1941 | 24 |
| 1940 | 13 |
| 1939 | 11 |
| 1938 | 10 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1936 | 5 |
| 1935 | 7 |
| 1934 | 6 |
| 1933 | 7 |