Comments (Usage Only)
Also Dutch: https://nvb.meertens.knaw.nl/naam/is/Kimberly
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Although the name is predominantly female, the name Kimberly made it to the U.S Top 1000s for men between 1951-1980 (for approximately twenty nine years). It probably doesn't count as a unisex name, especially since it never made it to the top of the charts again for males, and when it did make it to the top, it was only in the 700s-900s out of 1000!
However, I still can't help but wonder if there are boys being named this in the modern era, as other Usage commenters have implied. The name Beverly was used on men during that period as well, and although surnames as first names is a common practice in several countries, it appears to be especially common for males to have surnames as first names in the United States.
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However, I still can't help but wonder if there are boys being named this in the modern era, as other Usage commenters have implied. The name Beverly was used on men during that period as well, and although surnames as first names is a common practice in several countries, it appears to be especially common for males to have surnames as first names in the United States.
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In 2018, 40 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Kimberly who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 47th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
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Someone asked about Kimberlys/Kimberleys born prior to 1954. There were a few girls given the name in the late 1920's, and one or two I found right on Ancestry.com before and after the turn of the 20th century in the US. It seems to have really started to take off in the mid-1930's, though it hadn't yet made the top 1000 charts.
Before the 1920's, you see girls with the middle name Kimberly and boys bearing Kimberly as a first or middle name. Do a search on Ancestry.com with the first name Kimberly and birth dates around these times, and you get a sense of how the name evolved in its use.
Kimberly seems to be the spelling more widely used among American families before the 20th century, but there were families with the Kimberley spelling as well. For some reason, I see most of the earliest female Kimberlys came from Pennsylvania and California. Early female Kimberleys were seen starting in the 1920's in Texas, but elsewhere too.
Do the same Ancestry.com search in England and you see a similar pattern, with the Kimberleys/Kimberlys appearing a bit earlier, closer to 1900 and 1910.
There are robust histories of St. Kyneburgha's influence in both Norfolk (where the Kimberley name was made famous by Lord Kimberley) as well as Gloucester (from where the 18th century ancestor of many of the prominent American men bearing the surname Kimberly hailed.
Rear Admiral Lewis Ashfield Kimberly (April 22, 1830 – January 28, 1902) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. Other name websites have pointed out that the Naval ships bearing his name were widely publicized and may have helped popularize Kimberly as a name for girls. If you trace Admiral Kimberly's genealogy back to Gloucester, England, you will see that he shared this ancestor with other Americans who brought the Kimberly name across the North American continent. We had many immigrants from Gloucester, England in the 1700's as they were seeking religious freedom.
That's enough for this post, and I hope other Kimberlys and Kimberleys out there who love history and research can tell us more.
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Before the 1920's, you see girls with the middle name Kimberly and boys bearing Kimberly as a first or middle name. Do a search on Ancestry.com with the first name Kimberly and birth dates around these times, and you get a sense of how the name evolved in its use.
Kimberly seems to be the spelling more widely used among American families before the 20th century, but there were families with the Kimberley spelling as well. For some reason, I see most of the earliest female Kimberlys came from Pennsylvania and California. Early female Kimberleys were seen starting in the 1920's in Texas, but elsewhere too.
Do the same Ancestry.com search in England and you see a similar pattern, with the Kimberleys/Kimberlys appearing a bit earlier, closer to 1900 and 1910.
There are robust histories of St. Kyneburgha's influence in both Norfolk (where the Kimberley name was made famous by Lord Kimberley) as well as Gloucester (from where the 18th century ancestor of many of the prominent American men bearing the surname Kimberly hailed.
Rear Admiral Lewis Ashfield Kimberly (April 22, 1830 – January 28, 1902) was an officer in the United States Navy during the American Civil War. Other name websites have pointed out that the Naval ships bearing his name were widely publicized and may have helped popularize Kimberly as a name for girls. If you trace Admiral Kimberly's genealogy back to Gloucester, England, you will see that he shared this ancestor with other Americans who brought the Kimberly name across the North American continent. We had many immigrants from Gloucester, England in the 1700's as they were seeking religious freedom.
That's enough for this post, and I hope other Kimberlys and Kimberleys out there who love history and research can tell us more.
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I am 35 years old and my name is Kimberly. I like my name enough. I wouldn't stop someone from using it. I find it is a popular name from the years around my birthdate, 1979.
I do like names that have options.
I use Kimberly professionally.
I use Kim when I have to spell my name to someone, over the phone or for appointments.
I was Kim in school. I do like the ease and simplicity with the name. There is never any pronunciation problems.
When I got married I could use the version that sounded best with my married last name.
I never really dictate Kim, Kimberly, Kimmie. I let people use whichever they prefer although, I never introduce myself as Kimmie, I don't mind it because the only people who call me that are family, close friends or children. Auntie Kimmie is a fun name. It's a sign of affection when someone starts calling me Kimmie.
I had a boyfriend once that called me Kimba, just because I hated it. Obviously he didn't stay a boyfriend too long.
Other than that I was never teased about my name. So I do appreciate that.
I think all versions of the name are fine, I don't love my name but I don't hate it either. I do wish there was a better nickname. I think of the name as similar to Jennifer, just slightly less common.
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I do like names that have options.
I use Kimberly professionally.
I use Kim when I have to spell my name to someone, over the phone or for appointments.
I was Kim in school. I do like the ease and simplicity with the name. There is never any pronunciation problems.
When I got married I could use the version that sounded best with my married last name.
I never really dictate Kim, Kimberly, Kimmie. I let people use whichever they prefer although, I never introduce myself as Kimmie, I don't mind it because the only people who call me that are family, close friends or children. Auntie Kimmie is a fun name. It's a sign of affection when someone starts calling me Kimmie.
I had a boyfriend once that called me Kimba, just because I hated it. Obviously he didn't stay a boyfriend too long.
Other than that I was never teased about my name. So I do appreciate that.
I think all versions of the name are fine, I don't love my name but I don't hate it either. I do wish there was a better nickname. I think of the name as similar to Jennifer, just slightly less common.
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This is actually also used as a masculine name, derived from the surname.
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Comments are left by users of this website. They are not checked for accuracy.
Sources: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unisex_name
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberly_(given_name)
https://www.behindthename.com/name/kimberly/top/united-states