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    The first name Karim

    A boy’s name from Arabic meaning “noble”, “generous”.

    Pronounced /kəˈɹiːm/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    Arabic origin

    Karim means “noble”, “generous” in Arabic.

    From Arabic كَرِيم (karīm, “noble, generous”).

    More names that mean noble.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 66 boys were named Karim, making it the 585th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2022, with 75 births (#524).

    04080 1996200020052010201520202025
    1,321
    babies named Karim, 1996–2025
    #585
    rank in 2025
    2022
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Karim with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Karim at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 198 boys born in the United States were named Karim, the 1,084th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2023, when 376 were.

    0200400 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    6,944
    babies named Karim since 1880
    #1,084
    rank in 2025
    2023
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    Famous people named Karim

    49 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Karim Benzema
      French footballer (born 1987)
    • Karim Khan zand
      Founder of the Zand Dynasty (1751–1779)
    • Karim Findi
      Author, writer, journalist, born 1946
    • Karim Ziani
      Algerian and French footballer, born 1982
    • Karim Matmour
      Algerian and French footballer, born 1985
    • Karim Rekik
      Dutch association football player (born 1994)
    • Karim Ahmad Khan
      British lawyer, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, born 1970
    • Karim Onisiwo
      Austrian association football player, born 1992
    • Karim Hafez
      Egyptian association football player, born 1995
    • Karim Rashid
      American industrial designer (born 1960)
    • Karim Guédé
      Footballer, born 1985
    • Karim Khalili
      Afghan politician, born 1950

    More Arabic boys’ names

    All 218 names of Arabic origin

    Questions

    What does the name Karim mean?
    Karim means “noble”, “generous” in Arabic.
    What is the origin of the name Karim?
    From Arabic كَرِيم (karīm, “noble, generous”).
    How popular is the name Karim?
    In 2025, 66 boys born in England and Wales were named Karim, ranking 585th. Its peak was 2022, with 75 births.
    Is Karim a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 6,944 US babies named Karim since 1880 were boys.
    When was Karim most popular?
    2023 in the United States, when 376 babies were named Karim, its highest rank at 707th.
    How do you pronounce Karim?
    Karim is /kəˈɹiːm/, 2 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Karim?
    Kareem.
    Is Karim also a surname?
    Yes. Karim is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.