Kimberley

Origin & Etymology

Kimberley's roots go back to Old English: 'Cyneburg's leah,' meaning 'woodland clearing belonging to Cyneburg' (a feminine personal name). There is a Kimberley in Nottinghamshire, England, with this ancient origin. But the name gained global fame through Kimberley, South Africa — a city founded during the 1871 diamond rush and named after John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley, who was then British Secretary of State for the Colonies. After the dramatic Siege of Kimberley in the Boer War, the name crossed over to women's use.

Popularity Story

Kimberly was one of the quintessential baby boomer names — it was in the US top 5 for girls throughout the 1960s, peaking at #2 in 1967. Its rapid rise and fall followed the pattern of many mid-century names: meteoric popularity followed by equally swift decline. Today it's a nostalgic name strongly associated with women born between 1955 and 1980.

Cultural Significance

In South Africa, Kimberley (with the '-ey' spelling) is a city of significant historical weight — site of the world's largest hand-dug excavation, the Big Hole, created during the diamond rush that led to the founding of De Beers. Kimberlite, the volcanic rock in which diamonds form, is named directly after the city.

Fun Facts

• Kimberlite, the volcanic rock that carries diamonds to Earth's surface, is named after Kimberley, South Africa
• Kimberly was the #2 girls' name in the US in 1967
• The Siege of Kimberley (1899–1900), in which Cecil Rhodes was besieged, made the city — and its name — famous worldwide

Kimberley in Other Languages