Kimberley Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Kimberley originates from Old English, meaning 'royal fortress.' It evolved from earlier forms like Cyneburh and Cynberley. The name gained popularity in the 19th century due to the establishment of a town in South Africa. It is often associated with traits of strength and elegance. There is no biblical relevance.
The name Kimberley is most popular in Vermont, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Kimberley has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Kimberley' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2781st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4923rd out of 10718 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6775th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 378th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 231st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 668th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2006th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4315th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Kimberley' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Kimberley"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɪmbərli/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Kimberley is derived from a place name in England, which itself comes from the Old English elements 'cyne' meaning 'royal' or 'kingly' and 'burh' meaning 'fortress' or 'town'.
Meaning
Royal fortress
Language Evolution
Cyneburh, Cynberley, Kimberley
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in England, as a result of the establishment of the town of Kimberley in South Africa, which was named after the British Secretary of State for the Colonies, Lord Kimberley.
Variants & Derivatives
Kim, Kimmy, Kimmie
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Kimberley is perceived as a modern and somewhat trendy name, often associated with strength and elegance.
Famous People
Kimberley Walsh, Kimberley Locke, Kimberley Ann Woltemas
Explore More Kimberley Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Kimberley"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Kimberley"
"Kimberley" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2781st of 7552 | 166 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4923rd of 10718 | 69 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 6775th of 9204 | 20 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 378th of 12526 | 11,077 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 231st of 19264 | 20,135 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 668th of 27321 | 4,876 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2006th of 35406 | 1,515 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 4315th of 30306 | 398 |
Regional Popularity of "Kimberley" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Kimberley" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
14.73% 328th/2227 |
14.53% 353rd/2430 |
15.81% 451st/2853 |
11.24% 312th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
8.17% 240th/2937 |
6.46% 225th/3483 |
6.40% 225th/3518 |
5.02% 203rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
21.82% 804th/3685 |
13.74% 615th/4475 |
12.05% 626th/5194 |
10.95% 692nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
63.64% 2916th/4582 |
33.48% 1729th/5164 |
27.69% 2025th/7313 |
22.94% 1712th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
94.54% 4242nd/4487 |
49.79% 3397th/6822 |
50.80% 3188th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Kimberley"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Kimberley" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.