Kimberley is a feminine given name of English origin. It is derived from the name of the town of Kimberley in South Africa, which was founded by diamond prospectors in 1871 and named after a certain Mrs. Kimberley, whose family owned land in the area. The town's name itself is believed to have originated from the Middle Dutch word "Cummerland," meaning "land of the cumin." However, it is important to note that there is no historical evidence supporting this claim.
The name Kimberley has gained popularity as a given name due to its association with diamonds and wealth. In fact, the term "kimberlite" was coined by geologists in reference to the volcanic rocks found in kimberlite pipes, which are often associated with diamond deposits. This further contributed to the luxurious image of the name Kimberley.
In addition to its English origins, Kimberley has also been adopted as a given name in other countries around the world, such as Australia and Canada. Its popularity has varied over time, with peaks occurring during the 1970s and 1980s. Today, Kimberley remains a popular choice among parents looking for unique and meaningful names for their daughters.
Overall, the name Kimberley is strongly associated with wealth, luxury, and beauty due to its connection with diamonds and its history in South Africa. Despite this, its true origins lie in Middle Dutch language and culture, and it has evolved into a widely-recognized feminine given name with global appeal.
The name Kimberley has seen a fascinating journey in popularity over the years in the United States. Initially, it started with a modest five births each year from 1941 to 1944. However, it began to gain traction in 1946 with 23 births, marking a significant increase in its usage.
The trend continued to rise steadily throughout the 1950s and 1960s, reaching a peak in 1965 with 1799 births. This decade-long surge in popularity indicates that Kimberley was becoming a favored choice among parents during this period.
However, like many names, Kimberley's popularity began to wane in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The number of babies named Kimberley dropped significantly from a high of 2003 births in 1967 to just 473 in 1981.
Despite this decline, Kimberley maintained some level of popularity throughout the late 20th century and into the early 21st century. It peaked again at 324 births in 1990 but has since seen a consistent decrease, with only 14 births recorded in 2022.
In total, over the years, there have been 37995 babies named Kimberley in the United States, highlighting its enduring presence as a popular name choice among American parents.