The nameKim
Kim is short and neutral. It was a top 100 American name for both boys and girls in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Unisex name
- English
Meaning
Kim is a short form of Kimberley, from an English place name. In Korea Kim is a family name, from the word for "gold".
Origin
English.
History
Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim, published in 1901, has a boy hero. In the United States Kim reached 98th place for boys in 1955 and 34th for girls in 1960. In England and Wales its best rank for girls since 1996 is 382nd, in 1996.
Famous people named Kim
- Kim Novak, actress
- Kim Wilde, singer
- Kim Clijsters, tennis player
Popularity of the name Kim
Kim in the United States
Kim was most popular in the United States in the 1960s, with 101,573 births over the decade, 47% of all recorded babies named Kim. Its rise began around 1951, and it peaked in 1960. Half of all babies named Kim in the United States were born before 1961, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 47 births a year on average, against 61 in the five years before.
Kim in the United Kingdom
Kim was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 357 births over the decade, 48% of all recorded babies named Kim. Half of all babies named Kim in the United Kingdom were born before 2002.
Kim in Ireland
Kim in France
Kim in Belgium
Kim in Switzerland
Kim in Austria
Kim in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Kim
Names from the same generation as Kim, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Kim? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Kim with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Kim side by side with the name of your choice.
Kim in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kim mean?
Kim is a short form of Kimberley, from an English place name. In Korea Kim is a family name, from the word for "gold".
What is the origin of the name Kim?
English.
Is Kim a girl's or a boy's name?
Kim is a unisex name, given to both girls and boys. In the United States, 84% of the babies named Kim are girls.
How popular is the name Kim?
In 2024, Kim was the 4813th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 28 births.
What are the variants of the name Kim?
Variants and related names of Kim include Kimberley.
What are good sibling names for Kim?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Leanne, Debbie, Darlene and Melinda for a sister, Tim, Freddie, Willy and Cedric for a brother.
Who are famous people named Kim?
Kim Novak, actress; Kim Wilde, singer; Kim Clijsters, tennis player.