Holding steady.
Popularity of Kimberla since 1959
Babies named Kimberla per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1966, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Kimberla's real moment was 1972.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 87 |
| 1970s | 57 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Kimberla first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1959, a time when longer, elaborate feminine names were popular. It reached its peak usage in 1972, but even then it never entered the top 1,000 names, making it a rare choice. Since the 1970s, its use has been stable but extremely low, with no recent surge in popularity. The name is clearly a derivative of Kimberly, a name that was itself popular in the 1970s, but unlike Kimberly, Kimberla never achieved widespread usage. It follows the trend of adding the -la suffix to names (like Brenda to Brenda or Angela to Angela) to create a more distinctive sound. No single state ever recorded enough births for Kimberla to appear among its top names, confirming its rarity across the country.
Kimberla is a feminine name that emerged in the mid-20th century, first recorded in 1959. It appears to be a variation of Kimberly, which itself originated from the Kimberley region in South Africa, combined with the feminine suffix -la that was fashionable in the 1950s and 1960s. The name saw modest use, peaking in 1972, but has since become rare. Its creation reflects the trend of adapting established names into new, melodic forms.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kim, Kimmy, Bella, Kimmie
Sibling names for Kimberla
Names that share Kimberla's style, for a brother or sister.
