Karim
From Arabic كَرِيم (karīm, “noble, generous”).
Every Karim since 1957 — 6,944 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Karim
Karim is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,084 in 2025 with 198 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1957, 6,944 American babies have been named Karim. Its peak came in 2023, when 376 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Karim stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Karim year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 198 | #1,084 |
| 2024 | — | — | 305 | #821 |
| 2023 | — | — | 376 | #707 |
| 2022 | — | — | 328 | #772 |
| 2021 | — | — | 194 | #1,089 |
| 2020 | — | — | 212 | #1,000 |
| 2019 | — | — | 192 | #1,063 |
| 2018 | — | — | 180 | #1,092 |
| 2017 | — | — | 193 | #1,044 |
| 2016 | — | — | 236 | #914 |
| 2015 | — | — | 179 | #1,091 |
| 2014 | — | — | 180 | #1,076 |
| 2013 | — | — | 162 | #1,121 |
| 2012 | — | — | 155 | #1,177 |
| 2011 | 5 | #18,156 | 141 | #1,238 |
| 2010 | — | — | 153 | #1,181 |
| 2009 | — | — | 153 | #1,183 |
| 2008 | — | — | 131 | #1,328 |
| 2007 | — | — | 119 | #1,382 |
| 2006 | — | — | 131 | #1,280 |
| 2005 | — | — | 120 | #1,286 |
| 2004 | — | — | 131 | #1,186 |
| 2003 | — | — | 129 | #1,163 |
| 2002 | — | — | 122 | #1,163 |
| 2001 | — | — | 114 | #1,194 |
| 2000 | — | — | 92 | #1,377 |
| 1995 | — | — | 73 | #1,387 |
| 1990 | — | — | 78 | #1,258 |
| 1985 | — | — | 58 | #1,263 |
| 1980 | 5 | #11,115 | 76 | #1,041 |
| 1975 | 10 | #5,727 | 74 | #957 |
| 1970 | 8 | #6,045 | 23 | #1,875 |
| 1965 | — | — | 20 | #1,793 |
| 1960 | — | — | 9 | #2,971 |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Karim
- Karim Khan Zand Politician · 1705–1779
- Karim Khalili Politician · b. 1950
- Karim Findi Writer · b. 1946
- Karim Rashid Writer · b. 1960
- Karim Massimov Politician · b. 1965
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Karim mean?
From Arabic كَرِيم (karīm, “noble, generous”).
How popular is the name Karim in 2025?
Karim ranked #1,084 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 198 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Karim?
6,944 babies have been named Karim in the United States since 1957, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Karim most popular?
Karim peaked in 2023, when 376 newborns received the name.
Is Karim a boy or girl name?
Karim is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Karim rising or falling?
Karim is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Karim?
Well-known people named Karim include Karim Khan Zand (politician), Karim Khalili (politician), Karim Findi (writer).