Karim

A familiar Arabic name with steady appeal.

Boy's name| Also girlsArabicRising fast Also a pet name
#819 114in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A male given name from Arabic.

Karim is a boy's and girl's baby name of Arabic origin, meaning "generous," "noble," or "generous in spirit," from the Arabic karam (generosity). It is one of the 99 names of Allah in Islam, making it deeply significant in Muslim tradition.

Karim is widely used across the Arab world, Iran, and Turkey, and has grown in the United States within Muslim communities. Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — born Lew Alcindor — brought the variant spelling to mainstream American awareness when he converted to Islam in 1971.

Compare Karim with another name

Popularity Over Time

Karim climbed 367 spots in the last 20 years — from #1186 to #819.

0941882823761960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Karim
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s1,415
2010s1,771
2000s1,242
1990s830
1980s647
1970s626
1960s132
1950s25

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(68 years, 19572024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Karim
YearBirthsRank
2024305#819
2023376#705
2022328#772
2021194#1089
2020212#1000
2019192#1063
2018180#1092
2017193#1044
2016236#912
2015179#1090
2014180#1076
2013162#1121
2012155#1177
2011141#1238
2010153#1181
2009153#1183
2008131#1328
2007119#1381
2006131#1280
2005120#1286

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Karim as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Karim has also been given to 58 girls in the U.S. since 1970.

Unranked
Current rank
58
Total births
1979
Peak year
Compare Karim as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Karim be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Karim is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #819. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Karim has two lives

Karim, the baby name
#819boys
6,688 babies
Currently viewing
Karim, the pet name
#28761pet name
1 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19572024) · Methodology