Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Kim
GirlEnglish· “short for Kimberly”
- Meaning
- short for Kimberly
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- KIHM
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #4,228
- US babies 2025
- 34
- Best rank
- #34 (1960)
- Peak year
- 1960
Meaning and origin of Kim
Kim is an English name that is usually said to mean “short for Kimberly”.
Kim began as a short form of Kimberly and also stands as an independent name. Kimberly comes from an English place name, and the town of Kimberley in South Africa, named after a British politician, made it more familiar. Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim, published in 1901, gave the name to a boy, but it later became mainly a girls' name in the United States. It is said KIHM. Kim is also a very common Korean surname, unrelated to the English name. Well-known bearers include actresses Kim Novak and Kim Basinger. Its brisk single syllable gives it a no-nonsense, mid-century charm.
Other spellings with the same sound: Kym, Kimm.
Popularity over time
Kim first appears in US Social Security records in 1914. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 48 different years, starting in 1944. Its best national rank was #34 in 1960, the same year it reached its highest count of 12,477 babies. In 2025, 34 babies were named Kim, and it ranked #4,228 nationally. That is 53% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #5,362 in 1920, #481 in 1950, #383 in 1980, #1,546 in 2000, #3,181 in 2010, and #4,228 in 2025. Of the 179,817 US girls named Kim since records began, 52% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 56,080 babies. Since 2010, 805 more have been named Kim.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Theresa, Denise, Terri, Valerie, and Annette.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Kim ranked highest in New York and California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New York | #2260 | 5 |
| California | #2642 | 7 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 85% of US babies named Kim over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Kim is usually pronounced KIHM, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with K and ends in “-im”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Kym and Kimm.
Middle names for Kim
A few middle names that flow with Kim: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Kim
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Lists that include Kim
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kim mean?
Kim is an English name that is usually said to mean “short for Kimberly”.
What is the origin of the name Kim?
Kim has English roots. Kim began as a short form of Kimberly and also stands as an independent name.
Is Kim a popular name?
Not especially. Kim ranked #4,228 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Kim a boy or girl name?
Kim is mainly a girl's name. About 85% of US babies named Kim over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Kim?
Kim is usually pronounced KIHM. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings