Kimberly is a female given name of English origin. It is derived from the name of the town Kimberley in South Africa, which was named after the wife of theDiamond Fields' first mining manager, John Allwright. The town itself was named after his wife's maiden name, Kimbell. Over time, the name evolved to become Kimberly.
The meaning of Kimberly is not explicitly linked to any specific word or concept. However, it is often associated with qualities like strength and endurance, perhaps due to its association with diamonds, which are known for their hardness and durability.
Historically, Kimberly has been a popular name in English-speaking countries since the late 19th century when diamond mining began in South Africa. It was particularly common in the United States during the mid-20th century. Today, it is still widely used as a given name for girls but its popularity has somewhat decreased compared to its peak in the past.
In popular culture, Kimberly has been used as a character name in various movies, TV shows, and books. Some notable examples include Kimberly Drummond from the sitcom "Three's Company" and Kimberly Ann Holloway from the novel "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks. These characters have contributed to the familiarity of the name Kimberly among the public.
The name Kimberl was quite popular from 1967 to 1974, with a total of 62 babies named Kimberl during this period. The years 1968 and 1970 saw the fewest births with only 6 and 7 respectively, while the name's popularity peaked in 1972 and 1973 with 8 births each year.