Kimberly in Chinese
Kimberly in Chinese is 金伯莉 (Jīn Bó Lì).
- Origin
- English
- Meaning
- royal fortress meadow
Kimberly is a name of English origin, generally understood to mean "royal fortress meadow". It first shows up in US Social Security records in 1933 and peaked in 1970.
3 ways to write Kimberly
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
金伯莉
Jīn Bó Lì
The standard transliteration of Kimberly: 金 (jīn, "gold, metal"), 伯 (bó, "elder; count (title)"), 莉 (lì, "jasmine"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
Syllable by syllable: 金 (jīn) carries "kim", 伯 (bó) carries "ber", 莉 (lì) carries "ly". The tone contour is 1-2-4 (high level, rising, falling).
Character breakdown
25 strokes total (simplified)- 金
jīn
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
gold, metal
- 伯
bó
Tone 2 · 7 strokes (simplified)
elder; count (title)
- 莉
lì
Tone 4 · 10 strokes (simplified)
jasmine
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
嘉仪
Jiā Yí
Inspired by "royal fortress meadow": 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy") + 仪 (yí, "bearing, grace; ceremony"), expressing nobility and greatness.
Why these characters?
嘉 (excellent, praiseworthy) answers the "royal" in Kimberly's meaning, and 仪 (bearing, grace; ceremony) rounds it off as a typical ending for girls' names.
Character breakdown
19 strokes total (simplified)- 嘉
jiā
Tone 1 · 14 strokes (simplified)
excellent, praiseworthy
- 仪
yí
Tone 2 · 5 strokes (simplified)
bearing, grace; ceremony
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
金嘉
Jīn Jiā
金 (jīn, "gold, metal") + 嘉 (jiā, "excellent, praiseworthy"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 金 (jīn), the same opening character as the transliteration 金伯莉, for the "kim" sound, and replaces the rest with 嘉 ("excellent, praiseworthy") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
22 strokes total (simplified)- 金
jīn
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
gold, metal
- 嘉
jiā
Tone 1 · 14 strokes (simplified)
excellent, praiseworthy
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 835,149 girls named Kimberly since 1933, with the high point in 1970 (34,136 births) and the busiest decade being the 1960s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #31 to #164 among girls.
- Peak year
- 1970
- Peak decade
- 1960s
- First year
- 1933
- Total since 1880
- 835,149
More About Kimberly in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Kimberly offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Kimberly, you'll find options that work for you.
If you're exploring Chinese names for girls, you might also be interested in Isabella in Chinese, Sophia in Chinese, and Rebecca in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Michelle in Chinese, Alyssa in Chinese, and Katherine in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Kimberly, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Kimberly to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
How do you write Kimberly in Chinese?
金伯莉 (Jīn Bó Lì), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How many strokes does 金伯莉 have?
25 strokes in simplified form; per character: 金 8, 伯 7, 莉 10.
Does Kimberly change in traditional Chinese?
No. 金伯莉 uses only characters that are the same in both scripts, so one design works everywhere.