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.
- English
- Dutch
- German
- Danish
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 →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
- Dutch
- German
- Danish
- Swedish
- Norwegian
- Finnish
- Vietnamese
Origin & history
The Story of Kim
As a girl name
American parents first put Kim on the record books as a girl name in 1914, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1960, when 12,474 Kims were born — ranking #34 that year. About 52% of every Kim on record arrived during the 1960s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Kim ranks #4,687 for girls with 29 births, falling sharply (-23%). All told, over 180K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Kim as a boy name dates back to 1912, when 5 babies received it. 1955 was its biggest year on record, with 3,490 newborns named Kim — #98 in the national rankings. About 61% of every Kim on record arrived during the 1950s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Kim ranks #6,645 for boys with 12 births, rising sharply (+37% over the past five years). All told, over 35K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Kim
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Kim. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
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?
What is the origin of the name Kim?
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?
What are nicknames or variants of 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.