Kimberley is the name of a town in South Africa famed for its diamond mines, which was named after Lord Kimberly (1826-1902). As a name it reached the public in 1899 when Kimberley was the site of a major battle in the Second Boer War. It's been used as girls' name only since the mid 20th century, before then it was used for boys. The name is derived from the Old English word leah meaning "field; meadow; clearing; wood" and an Anglo Saxon first name: Cyneburh meaning "royal fortress."See Also: Kimberleigh