Kimberley is a feminine given name of English origin. It is derived from the name of the town of Kimberley in Kent, England. The name itself comes from the Old English words "cyne" meaning "king" and "beorh" meaning "settlement or fortified place".
The name Kimberley gained popularity in the late 19th century after diamonds were discovered near the town of Kimberley in South Africa. This discovery led to an influx of people into the region, and many women named their daughters Kimberley in honor of the newfound wealth and prosperity associated with the area.
Throughout history, the name Kimberley has been associated with several notable figures. One famous bearer of the name is Kimberley Williams-Paisley, an American actress best known for her role as Anna Nicole Smith in the 2013 TV movie "The Anna Nicole Story". Another notable figure is Kimberley Stewart, a Canadian model and socialite who is the daughter of legendary musician Rod Stewart.
Today, Kimberley remains a popular name choice among English-speaking parents. It is often shortened to Kim or Kimmy, but can also be used as a full name on its own. Overall, Kimberley is a strong and distinctive name with a rich history behind it.
The name Kimberley has been a popular choice for parents in the United States over the past few decades, with a total of 235 babies named Kimberley between 1949 and 1974. The name's popularity varied year by year, peaking in 1954 with 26 births that year.
During this period, the name was consistently given to more girls than boys. In fact, all but one of the years listed had only female babies named Kimberley. The exception was in 1972, where there was one male baby named Kimberley.
It's interesting to note that the most popular decade for the name Kimberley was the 1950s, with a total of 138 births during those ten years. This accounts for over half of all Kimberleys born in the United States between 1949 and 1974.
While the name's popularity has waned since then, it remains a classic choice that has stood the test of time. According to the Social Security Administration, there were still 6 girls named Kimberley born in the United States in 2020.