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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Gold/metal (Vietnamese and Korean usage); in English mainly a short form of Kimberly with no independent meaning of its own
- Origin
- Vietnamese/Korean (from Sino-Vietnamese/Hanja 金); also English (short form)
- Gender
- Neutral
- Pronunciation
- KIM
Kim is a short, clean name that works for any child, with a classic feel and a modern edge. It's pronounced KIM (/ˈkɪm/). You'll hear two stories about it: in Vietnamese and Korean usage it means gold or metal (from the character 金), while in English it's usually just a short form of Kimberly with no meaning of its own, so the popular claim that it simply means 'gold' only holds for the Vietnamese and Korean name.
Meaning & Origin of Kim
Meaning: Gold/metal (Vietnamese and Korean usage); in English mainly a short form of Kimberly with no independent meaning of its own.
Origin: Vietnamese/Korean (from Sino-Vietnamese/Hanja 金); also English (short form).
A common claim: Popularly said to simply mean 'gold' Actually: That's accurate only for the Vietnamese/Korean-origin name; in Western/English use Kim is usually just a short form of Kimberly and carries no 'gold' meaning of its own
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Kim
KIMIPA /ˈkɪm/
Popularity of Kim
Kim peaked at #34 in 1960, when 12,474 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #4817 with 28 babies, so your child would be unlikely to share the name with a classmate.
Names Like Kim
These names share Kim’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Kim mean?
Gold/metal (Vietnamese and Korean usage); in English mainly a short form of Kimberly with no independent meaning of its own. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Kim?
Kim is pronounced KIM (IPA: /ˈkɪm/).
Is Kim a popular name right now?
Kim peaked at #34 in 1960 and is ranked #4817 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1912–2024.)
Make Kim Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Kim, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Kim? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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