Girl · #10,241 in 2026

Lima

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, as well as a primate city. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru.

Current Rank
#10,241
Peak Rank
#1,170 (1904)
Total Babies
180
5-Yr Trend
+4%
1897
First Year
2024
Last Year
1904
Peak Year
#1170
Peak Rank
180
Total Count
29
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Lima

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, as well as a primate city. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
According to early Spanish articles, the Lima area was once called Itchyma , [ citation needed ] after its original inhabitants. However, even before the Inca occupation of the area in the 15th century, a famous oracle in the Rímac Valley had come to be known by visitors as Limaq ( Limaq , pronounced [ ˈli.mɑq ] , which means "talker" or "speaker" in the coastal Quechua that was the area's primary language before the Spanish arrival). This oracle was eventually destroyed by the Spanish and replaced with a church, but the name persisted: the chronicles show "Límac" replacing "Ychma" as the comm
Origin & history
Main articles: History of Lima and Timeline of Lima

The Story of Lima

Lima first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1897, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1904, when 10 Limas were born — ranking #1,170 that year. As of 2026, Lima ranks #10,241 for baby girls with 9 births, holding steady (+4%). In total, more than 180 Limas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Names that sound like Lima

Phonetically similar names — useful when Lima 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 Lima

What does the name Lima mean?
Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, as well as a primate city. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru.
How popular is Lima in 2026?
In 2026, Lima ranks #10,241 among girls' names in the U.S., with 9 babies given the name that year.
When was Lima most popular?
Lima reached its peak popularity in 1904, ranking #1,170 that year with 10 babies given the name.
Is Lima a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Lima is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Lima?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Lima include Leathia, Torri, Kenyetta. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Leathia
Peak #1170
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Torri
Peak #1170
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Kenyetta
Peak #1170
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Tameika
Peak #1170
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Jamesha
Peak #1170
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Zia
Peak #1170
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Dicie
Peak #1171
👧
Ednah
Peak #1171

About the name Lima

Lima is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1897 and has accumulated 180 births in the dataset. Lima's peak popularity came in 1904 when it ranked #1,170. Use the chart and map above to compare Lima's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.