Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Calling a boy 'Kim'

62 replies

halfdoneharris · 19/03/2012 15:41

I quite like the idea of calling my DS Kim after the Rudyard Kipling novel, but my DH thinks this is too much of a girls name nowadays.

Do you think Kim is acceptable for a boy - and if not can anyone suggest some equally short spunky english names not in the top 10?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Stellan · 23/03/2012 12:23

On the one hand, it is just Tim or Jim with a K - fine.

On the other, I've only ever met female Kims.

CroissantNeuf · 23/03/2012 12:12

I once taught a 7 year old Kim (who as a complete PITA).

I'm now wondering if he's a PITA 20-something

CecilyP · 23/03/2012 12:09

Yes, it's rather grown on me too. Most of the female Kims will be in their 40s or 50s now, and Kimberleys will be in their 20s, so shouldn't be a problem.

chelspa · 23/03/2012 04:21

I think Kim would sound quite refreshing and cool on a boy. It's not like Kim (or Kimberley) are really a popular name for girl's right now, are they?

mathanxiety · 22/03/2012 15:43

What would put me off would be Kim Philby.

Also, I think it's lovely as a girls' name (but I like Kay too).

Original poster
halfdoneharris · 22/03/2012 13:17

Guy Harris does sound cool - that one will go on my list!

OP posts:
WhiteHairReally · 21/03/2012 23:04

I teach a 16 year old male Kim. He is sheepish about and defensive of his name.

Ned
Guy
Hugh alth not with your surname perhaps

'Guy Harris' - I'm a little in love with him already.

PercyFilth · 20/03/2012 19:54

The problem with Kit is that it's very prone to awful pun-based jokes and teasing.

biglips · 20/03/2012 19:45

i also know a guy in his 60's who is called Kim. It was the 1st "kim" guy's name i ever heard.

JasperJohns · 20/03/2012 19:43

I quite like Kim for a boy.

What about Kit as an alternative? Although it's a bit common - I know 2.

Molybdenum · 20/03/2012 19:41

Oh and I should say that being called Kimberley has not harmed his masculinity. He is 27 now and hasn't been without a girlfriend since he was about nine!

Molybdenum · 20/03/2012 19:32

My youngest brother is Kim and he is indeed very good-looking and sporty. I knew at least four male Kims at school, don't think they were ever teased for it. However, my poor brother's full name is actually Kimberley, which I think could be classed as child abuse.

YellowBalloon · 20/03/2012 19:26

I have a relative called Kim, he is one seriously good looking hunky man. Pity we are related. Also have a male relative called Lindsay, he is also very very good looking indeed. Neither were bullied at school because of their names, both were very proficient in sport and academia and the girls absolutely loved them...and still do.

PercyFilth · 20/03/2012 19:17

Not sure that Kim has been popular for girls for years though, so would this child's generation see it exclusively as a girls' name?

StrandedBear · 20/03/2012 19:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

marshmallowpies · 20/03/2012 18:25

I knew a Kim about 15 years ago. Also Aung San Suu Kyi called her son Kim. I think it's a pretty cool name.

bunnybing · 20/03/2012 18:24

Hmm I know two male Kims one of whom had an interesting surname - he was quite a tough bastard - needed to be with a name like that.

spammertime · 20/03/2012 18:20

I think Kim for a boy is one of those names that will be absolutely fine if you can guarantee he will be good looking and cool and can easily overcome any teasing that will come his way.

If you aren't certain that is the case then I probably wouldn't choose it. But it's not a horrible name! However, as someone else has said, it's probably a name I'd associate with a 30/40 year old woman (and indeed the only Kim I know in RL is a teacher in that age group at my son's school).

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 20/03/2012 18:13

Kim is not IMHO acceptable for either a boy or a girl. It is however perfectly suitable for a dog.

SodoffBaldrick · 20/03/2012 18:12

Why is it OK if you're having a Chinese baby? Confused The Far East country most associated with the name is North Korea.

But I didn't even think of NK when I opened the thread - it is very much an Anglo name as well.

justhayley · 20/03/2012 14:09

If your having a Chinese baby it's perfectly acceptable apart from that I would say NO NO NO! Although my mums Kim so that may be why i find it a really strange idea

Francagoestohollywood · 20/03/2012 13:56

I really like it... and speaking of good looking <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.it/imgres?q=kim+rossi+stuart&hl=it&client=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1236&bih=862&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnslo&tbnid=gToBQ_odh2b8AM:&imgrefurl=www.movieplayer.it/foto/un-primo-piano-di-kim-rossi-stuart_18649/&docid=IFRLCuvmlhoXoM&imgurl=images.movieplayer.it/2003/07/02/kim-rossi-stuart-18649.jpg&w=450&h=605&ei=aYxoT8vcC43GtAbB_fDiBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=466&sig=105210374200174378480&page=1&tbnh=143&tbnw=126&start=0&ndsp=31&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&tx=90&ty=69" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this is Kim Rossi Stuart, a great italian actor (of british origins)

abbypumpkin · 20/03/2012 13:51

I know a male Kim but he's chinese. If your OH think's it's too much of a girl's name and is not comfortable with it as a boy's name then you really can't use it.
I can't really think of any short boy's names that aren't shortened versions.
How about
Tom, Sam, Jack, Zack
I've also heard kids called Bay, Kip, Pip, Jet

hellymelly · 20/03/2012 13:40

I like Kim, but I think I like Kit slightly more. They look nice written down, as well as sounding nice, which for some reason I find appealing!

Sockspence · 20/03/2012 13:36

I know a Swedish boy called Joakim which gets shortened to Kim. I've always loved the name.

Swipe left for the next trending thread