Kim
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Kim is an Old English name meaning “from the royal meadow”. It is a common name, primarily used for girls, with 85.09% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Kim
Kim functions as a shortened form of the Old English name Kimberley or the Scandinavian name Joachim. In its primary usage as a given name, it historically emerged from topographical references to a royal woodland or meadow. The name transitioned from a locational surname to a frequent personal name during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It represents the historical process of converting place-based surnames into widely adopted forenames in Western naming traditions.
Meaning Comments
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Gender Usage of the Name Kim
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Kim is primarily used as a name for girls. Approximately 85.09% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Kim
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Kim is listed under Common Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Uncommon | 1 in every 46K births |
| United Kingdom | Popular | 1 in every 2.7K births |
| Canada | Popular | 1 in every 3.8K births |
| Australia | Popular | 1 in every 16K births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Kim ranked #2,255 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It fell from #751 in 2024 — a drop of 1,504 places. Kim shows meaningful recent movement in rank, though it remains uncommon overall.
Historically, its best recorded position was #20 in 1959. Its lowest recorded position was #2,255 in 2025. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name fell -1698 places (from #557 to #2,255).
Name StyleMethodology
Kim is classified as Classic Girl Names because it appears in 78% of available years and remains active today, averaging 438 births per year after a historical peak in 1960.Characteristics of the Name Kim
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 1 syllable — One-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 3 letters — Short Girl Names
- Starts with
- K — Girl Names Starting with K
- Ends with
- m — Girl Names Ending in “m”
Name AestheticMethodology
Kim is a single-syllable name known for its extreme brevity and phonetically direct structure. It gained prominence through public figures like Kim Kardashian, which shifted its perception toward current pop culture. Its sharp sound contributes to a Sleek & Modern aesthetic.
Middle Names For Kim
Middle names used with KimMethodology
Kim is most frequently used with these girl middle names: Kim Marie · Kim Renee · Kim Ann · Kim Denise · Kim ElizabethView all 1,165 girl middle names.
- Total 1,856 middle names used with Kim
- 265 boy middle names used with Kim
- 373 unisex middle names used with Kim
Middle name suggestions for KimMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Kim is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have 2 syllables, Strong–Weak stress pattern, 5 letters, and a starting sound of “m”.
Examples: Kim Myers · Kim Monae · Kim Megan · Kim Moody · Kim Monay. View all 264 suggested middle names.
Associations of the Name Kim
Natural Name MatchesMethodology
The complete dataset includes 1 biological record matching the name Kim. None belong to the curated biological families used to classify Flower-, Tree-, or Bird-Inspired Names. This record is provided for reference only.
Names Similar to Kim
Sound Like Kim Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Kym · Kami · Cami · View all 80 names
Spelled Like Kim Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Kimm · Kima · Kime
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Karen · Kimberly · Carol · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Kim Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Autumn · Miriam · Niamh · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Ruth · Grace · Joyce · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Kim”
Dictionary Meaning of "Kim"Methodology
Alternative form of gim (“edible seaweed”)
More Info
How to Spell Kim in ASL
- K
- i
- m
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