Declining since 2022, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Kima since 1953
Babies named Kima per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 26 |
| 1960s | 62 |
| 1970s | 84 |
| 1980s | 31 |
| 1990s | 26 |
| 2000s | 43 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 100 |
Meaning & origin
Kima is an exceedingly rare name in the United States, first recorded in 1953 but only appearing sporadically until recent years. Its peak came in 2022, when it saw a modest bump in usage, though it still ranked outside the top 10,000 names. By 2025, its trajectory had begun falling, with an estimated 1 in 200908 newborns receiving the name. Because it has no clear etymology or cultural origin, Kima is best understood as a modern, creative coinage, possibly inspired by the name Kim or other short, vowel-heavy names like Mila or Kira. Its rarity makes it a distinctive choice for parents seeking an unusual name.
Kima is a rare modern name, likely arising as a feminine variant of Kim or as a creative spelling of the phonetic sound 'Kee-mah'. It may also be influenced by the Japanese word 'kima' (meaning 'fortune' or 'noble'), though this connection is speculative. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1953 but remained extremely uncommon until a slight uptick in the 2020s.
Sibling names for Kima
Names that share Kima's style, for a brother or sister.
