| Kimberly | Melissa | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| First appeared | 1933 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1970 (34,130) | 1979 (34,050) |
| In 2025 | 1,009 | 747 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Kimberly | Melissa |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 7,936 | 4,863 |
| 2010s | 27,264 | 14,272 |
| 2000s | 48,494 | 32,625 |
| 1990s | 77,879 | 89,990 |
| 1980s | 146,452 | 217,922 |
| 1970s | 229,097 | 253,267 |
| 1960s | 259,072 | 119,202 |
| 1950s | 48,958 | 22,293 |
| 1940s | 1,189 | 2,837 |
| 1930s | 52 | 666 |
| 1920s | 0 | 526 |
| 1910s | 0 | 516 |
| 1900s | 0 | 323 |
| 1890s | 0 | 399 |
| 1880s | 0 | 427 |
Kimberly began as an English place name and surname — ultimately “Cyneburg’s field,” Cyneburg meaning “royal fortress.” The South African diamond town of Kimberley spread the name, which is now chiefly female in the US.
Melissa is Greek for “honeybee,” from meli, “honey.” In Greek myth, Melissa was a nymph credited with discovering honey — giving the name a sweet, industrious feel.
Kimberly is more popular than Melissa today: about 1,009 US babies were given the name Kimberly in 2025, compared with 747 named Melissa.
In US records, Kimberly first appears in 1933 and Melissa in 1880, so Melissa has the longer recorded history.