Kim
Kim Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/ˈkɪm/
Meaning of Kim: Kim is the short form of Kimberly, which derives from the Old English name Cyneburh, meaning royal fortress or ruler's meadow.
The place Kimberley in South Africa, named for the Earl of Kimberley who oversaw British colonial policy, gave the full name global prominence after the discovery of diamonds there in 1871.
Kimberly entered American naming culture in the late 19th century through the South African diamond fields and became distinctly feminine in the United States from the 1940s onward.
What Does Kim Mean? Origin & Etymology
Its short form Kim was used as an independent given name from at least the 1950s, influenced by both the Kimberly trend and by Rudyard Kipling's 1901 novel Kim, whose protagonist was a boy named Kimball O'Hara.
Kim peaked in the United States around 1970, when it ranked among the top 10 feminine names. It was part of the short, single-syllable trend that produced Pam, Jan, Sue, and Gail as dominant feminine names of the late 1960s and 1970s.
Celebrity associations have kept the name in continuous public awareness. Actress Kim Basinger (born 1953), reality television figure Kim Kardashian (born 1980), and actress Kim Cattrall (born 1956) represent three generations of prominent bearers.
Today Kim falls outside the SSA top 1000 in the United States, categorized as a mid-century name. However, in South Korea, Kim (김) is the most common surname, borne by approximately 10 million people, which creates an interesting cross-cultural naming dynamic.
Further reading: etymology records and US popularity records from SSA.
Numerology & Symbolism of Kim
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Kim – Similar Names & Alternatives
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity
Frequently Asked Questions about Kim
What does the name Kim mean?
Kim means royal fortress or ruler's meadow as a short form of Kimberly, which derives from the Old English name Cyneburh. The city of Kimberley in South Africa, named for the Earl of Kimberley and famous for its diamond mines discovered in 1871, popularized the full form Kimberly in English-speaking countries.
When was Kim most popular as a name?
Kim peaked in the United States around 1970, ranking among the top 10 feminine names. It was part of the short one-syllable trend that produced Pam, Jan, Sue, and Gail as dominant names of the late 1960s and 1970s. It fell outside in 2024 the SSA top 1000, classified as a mid-century classic.
Is Kim a boy or girl name?
In the United States, Kim is used almost exclusively as a feminine name today. However, it has masculine roots: Rudyard Kipling's 1901 novel Kim features a boy named Kimball O'Hara. In Vietnam, Kim (meaning gold or precious) is used for both boys and girls. The Korean surname Kim is entirely separate.
Who are famous people named Kim?
Prominent bearers include actress Kim Basinger (born 1953, Academy Award winner for L.A. Confidential), television personality Kim Kardashian (born 1980), and actress Kim Cattrall (born 1956, known for Sex and the City). South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun and North Korean leaders Kim Jong-un reflect the name's prominence in East Asian contexts.
What is the connection between Kim and South Korea?
In South Korea, Kim (김) is the most common surname, borne by approximately 10 million people or about 21% of the population. It is a distinct word from the English Kim, derived from a Korean royal clan name. This creates a notable cross-cultural naming dynamic: Kim as a common Western feminine given name coexists with Kim as the most common East Asian surname.