Kim
A girls’ name of Old English origin, meaning noble, royal; or variant of Kimberly.
Kim by the numbers
In 2025, 7 babies in England and Wales were named Kim. In the US, 54 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
It is used at about the same rate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its American peak was 12,474 babies in 1960, so it is a 1960s name that has since fallen a long way.
Other names that come from Kimberly
Like Kim, each of these traces back to Kimberly: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Kimberlyfrom the wood of the royal forest1,823 in the US (2017)
- Kambreeroyal fortress; a modern form of Kimberly86 in the US (2017)
- Kymberroyal forest; a modern respelling of Kimber or Kimberly54 in the US (2017)
- Kimbellafrom the wood of the royal forest; elaborated form of Kimberly45 in the US (2017)
- Kymberlyfrom the wood of the royal forest; form of Kimberly9 in the US (2017)
- Kimbreeroyal fortress; modern form of Kimberly8 in the US (2017)
- Kimmyroyal fortress; diminutive of Kimberly8 in the US (2017)
- Kemberlyfrom the royal forest; a form of Kimberly7 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Kim. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Other names that mean a king or ruler
Like Kim, each of these has a king or ruler in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Averyruler of the elves10,365 in the US (2017)
- Ryanlittle king; descendent of rian8,422 in the US (2017)
- Aubreyelf ruler; noble strength6,029 in the US (2017)
- Kinsleyfrom the king's meadow; an English place name used as given name4,048 in the US (2017)
- Reaganlittle king3,211 in the US (2017)
- Emerybrave, powerful; industrious ruler2,983 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean nobility
Like Kim, each of these has nobility in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Aubreyelf ruler; noble strength6,029 in the US (2017)
- Audreynoble strength4,820 in the US (2017)
- Aaliyahhigh, exalted, of high rank4,167 in the US (2017)
- Allisonnoble natured; a form of Alison4,017 in the US (2017)
- Adelinenoble, nobility3,902 in the US (2017)
- Alicenoble, of noble kind825 in England and Wales (2025)