Kim
Kim is a unisex given name. It is also used as a diminutive or nickname for names such as Kimber, Kimberly, Kimberley, Kimball and Kimiko. In Kenya, it is short for various male names such as Kimutai and Kimani. In Vietnam, it is also a unisex name.
Meaning & Origin of Kim
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Kim is a unisex given name. It is also used as a diminutive or nickname for names such as Kimber, Kimberly, Kimberley, Kimball and Kimiko. In Kenya, it is short for various male names such as Kimutai and Kimani. In Vietnam, it is also a unisex name.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Kim
As a girl name
Kim first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1914, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1960, when 12,474 Kims were born — ranking #34 that year. As of 2026, Kim ranks #4,687 for girls with 29 births, falling sharply (-23%). In total, more than 180K Kims have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Kim first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1912, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1955, when 3,490 Kims were born — ranking #98 that year. As of 2026, Kim ranks #6,645 for boys with 12 births, rising sharply (+37% over the past five years). In total, more than 35K Kims have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Kim
Phonetically similar names — useful when Kim is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kim
What does the name Kim mean?
How popular is Kim in 2026?
When was Kim most popular?
In which U.S. states is Kim most popular?
Is Kim a unisex name?
What names go well with Kim?
About the name Kim
Kim is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1914 and has accumulated 180K births in the dataset. Kim's peak popularity came in 1960 when it ranked #34. Use the chart and map above to compare Kim's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1960 →
- Names of the 1960s →
- Names starting with "K" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.