Kimberly is a feminine given name of American origin. It was created by combining the elements "Kim" and "Berry," which are derived from the male name Kimber, meaning "from the woods." The name Kimberly gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, with its peak usage being in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, it remains a popular choice for parents seeking a classic yet distinctive name for their daughters.
The name Kimberly is often associated with the city of Kimberley in South Africa, which was named after the kimberlite rock that was discovered there. However, the origin of the name Kimberly as a given name predates this association and is purely coincidental.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Kimberly. For instance, Kimberly Guilfoyle, an American television news personality and former first lady of San Francisco, is named Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle. Additionally, Kimberly "Kim" Clijsters, a Belgian professional tennis player, is known by her given name.
In popular culture, the name Kimberly has been used in various forms of media. For example, it is the name of the protagonist in the animated film "The Land Before Time," and it was also used as a character name in the television series "Glee." Overall, the name Kimberly has a rich history and continues to be widely recognized and appreciated around the world.
The name Kimberly has a fascinating history of usage in the United States over the past century, as indicated by the provided statistics on annual births.
In the early years from 1933 to 1945, Kimberly was relatively uncommon, with fewer than 26 births per year. However, starting in 1946, there was a significant increase in its popularity, with over 100 births each year.
The peak of Kimberly's popularity occurred between 1952 and 1967, with the highest number of births recorded in 1967 at 33,097. This period saw consistent growth in usage, indicating that Kimberly was becoming an increasingly popular choice for parents during this time.
However, like many names, Kimberly's popularity began to decline after its peak. Between 1968 and 2000, the number of annual births with the name Kimberly decreased steadily but remained relatively high, with over 5,000 births recorded each year throughout the 1990s.
In recent years, from 2001 to 2023, Kimberly has continued to be a popular choice for parents in the United States. While its popularity has decreased since its peak, it remains widely used, with over 1,000 births recorded each year on average during this period.
In total, according to these statistics, there have been 844,065 births of Kimberly in the United States since 1933. This demonstrates that Kimberly is a name with enduring appeal and popularity among parents throughout much of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.