NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Karam

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "generosity", "honor", or "nobility".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Karam is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Karam popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #880, with 36 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 51 births.

This profile covers 756 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 758 living people in the UK are called Karam. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Karam ranked #880 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 36 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2023, when 51 boys were registered as Karam.
  • Karam ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #595 in 2018.
  • About 758 living people in the UK are estimated to have Karam as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 93.1% of Karam registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#880

2024

Births in 2024

36

Latest year

Peak year

2023

51 births

Estimated living

758

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Karam

In England and Wales birth records, Karam has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 93.1% of registrations are for boys and 6.9% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

93% boys
Boys756 (93.1%)Girls56 (6.9%)

Karam registered for boys

  • Ranked #880 in 2024
  • 36 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2023 (51 births)

Karam registered for girls

  • Ranked #4,709 in 2023
  • 4 girls registered in 2023
  • Peak: 1997 (6 births)

Meaning

What does Karam mean?

The name Karam has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with a history that can be traced back to ancient times. The word "karam" in Arabic means generosity, nobility, and magnanimity, reflecting the virtues associated with this name.

In the Islamic tradition, the concept of karam is highly revered and considered an essential quality for a person of faith. The name Karam can be found in various Islamic texts and historical records, often used to describe individuals who embodied these noble traits.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Karam dates back to the 7th century CE, during the early years of the Islamic era. Karam ibn al-Harith was a prominent companion of the Prophet Muhammad and is remembered for his generosity and commitment to the faith.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Karam. In the 12th century, Karam Khan was a revered Sufi saint and scholar from present-day Afghanistan. His teachings and writings on spirituality and wisdom have left a lasting impact on Islamic mysticism.

During the Mamluk period in Egypt, Karam al-Din al-Kabir (1456-1535) was a renowned historian and scholar who contributed significantly to the preservation of historical records and literary works from that era.

In more recent times, Karam Chand Thapar (1904-1984) was an influential Indian industrialist and philanthropist, known for his contributions to the business and social sectors of the country.

Another notable figure was Karam Masih (1920-1992), a Pakistani Christian who played a pivotal role in promoting interfaith harmony and advocating for the rights of religious minorities in the region.

The name Karam has transcended its Arabic roots and has been embraced by various cultures and communities around the world, often carrying the same connotations of generosity, nobility, and kindness.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Karam over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Karam in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Karam, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 36 births in 2024, compared with 51 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
014284155199620102024

Decades

Karam by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Karam was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #905 175 5
2010s #1011 292 10
2000s #969 238 10
1990s #1139 51 4

Geography

Where Karam is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Karam. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Karam ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #595 in 2018.

Scotland
4

Across the UK

Karam in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#595 in 2018

2 years of NRS records, 7 total registered

Related

Names similar to Karam

FAQ

Karam: questions and answers

How popular is the name Karam in the UK right now?

In 2024, Karam was ranked #880 for boys in England and Wales, with 36 births registered.

When was Karam most popular?

The peak year on record was 2023, with 51 babies registered as Karam in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Karam?

A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "generosity", "honor", or "nobility".

How many people are called Karam in the UK?

A total of 756 babies have been registered as Karam across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 7 more in Scotland.

Where is Karam most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Karam ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #595 in 2018. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.