Declining since 1985, #4,172 for girls today.
Popularity of Kim since 1912
Babies named Kim per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 22 |
| 1920s | 57 | 66 |
| 1930s | 209 | 310 |
| 1940s | 1,285 | 2,722 |
| 1950s | 56,080 | 21,208 |
| 1960s | 94,388 | 7,188 |
| 1970s | 20,697 | 1,818 |
| 1980s | 3,816 | 911 |
| 1990s | 1,600 | 407 |
| 2000s | 875 | 150 |
| 2010s | 587 | 93 |
| 2020s | 218 | 56 |
Meaning & origin
The name Kim has a varied history. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1914 reached its peak in 1960 when it was most popular. Since about 1985 its popularity has steadily declined. In 2025 it ranked 4,172 with about 1 in every 47,273 babies named Kim. Its top states historically are New York and California. The name is versatile in origin possibly derived from the English place name Kimberley or the Vietnamese word for golden.
Kim may be a diminutive of Kimberley or Kimberly, which derive from the Old English place name Cyneburg's leah, meaning 'meadow of the royal fortress'. The name gained popularity in English-speaking countries in the mid-20th century. In Vietnamese, Kim is a common given name meaning 'golden', often used for both genders.
Where Kim is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Kim” around the world
Where Kim lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kimmie, Kimmy
Sibling names for Kim
Names that share Kim's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Kim
Names whose popularity has moved with Kim's over the last 50 years.
