A 1960s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Kimberli since 1951
Babies named Kimberli per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 268 |
| 1960s | 1,249 |
| 1970s | 887 |
| 1980s | 505 |
| 1990s | 367 |
| 2000s | 437 |
| 2010s | 153 |
| 2020s | 76 |
Meaning & origin
Kimberli is a phonetic variant of Kimberly that first appeared in U.S. records in 1951. Its popularity peaked in 1968, and after declining for decades, it has been rising again since 2017. While still quite rare (ranked 10,107th in 2025, with only 1 in 178,585 girls receiving the name), the revival suggests a renewed interest in vintage 1960s-style names. The spelling with an 'i' ending gives it a distinctive twist compared to the more common Kimberly. No top states are associated with the name, indicating it is evenly distributed across the country.
Kimberli is a modern respelling of Kimberly, which originated as a surname from place names in England. The place name derives from Old English elements 'Cyneburg' (royal fortress) and 'leah' (clearing, meadow). Kimberly has been used as a given name since the 19th century, and Kimberli emerged as a phonetic variant in the 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kim, Kimmy, LiLi
Variants: Kimberly, Kimberlee, Kymberly, Kimberleigh
Sibling names for Kimberli
Names that share Kimberli's style, for a brother or sister.
