UK boy's name
Karim
A masculine Arabic name meaning "generous" or "noble".
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.
Karim is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Karim popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #519, with 75 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 75 births.
This profile covers 1,255 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,277 living people in the UK are called Karim. 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
- • Karim ranked #519 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 75 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 75 boys were registered as Karim.
- • Karim ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #614 in 2023.
- • About 1,277 living people in the UK are estimated to have Karim as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#519
2024
Births in 2024
75
Latest year
Peak year
2022
75 births
Estimated living
1,277
2026
Meaning
What does Karim mean?
The name Karim is derived from the Arabic word "karīm," which means "generous," "noble," or "honorable." It has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, originating in the Middle East around the 7th century AD.
Karim is considered one of the names of Allah, or God, in Islamic tradition, and it appears in the Quran, the holy book of Islam. It is mentioned as one of the attributes of Allah, describing Him as the Most Generous and Bountiful.
The earliest recorded use of the name Karim dates back to the early days of Islam, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. One of the most famous historical figures with this name was Karim Khan Zand, the founder of the Zand dynasty in Persia (modern-day Iran), who ruled from 1751 to 1779.
Another notable figure was Karim al-Kabir, a renowned Arab mathematician and astronomer who lived in the 9th century AD and made significant contributions to the field of algebra.
In the literary world, Karim Khan Kermani was a renowned Persian poet and writer who lived in the 18th century and is considered one of the most influential figures in Persian literature.
Karim Benzema, born in 1987, is a French professional football player who currently plays as a striker for Real Madrid and the French national team. He is considered one of the best strikers of his generation and has won numerous titles, including multiple UEFA Champions League trophies.
Karim Rashid, born in 1960, is an Egyptian-Canadian industrial designer known for his unique and distinctive designs that incorporate vibrant colors and organic forms. He has designed products, furniture, and interior spaces for various brands and companies worldwide.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Karim, highlighting its rich cultural and historical significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Karim over time
The chart below shows babies named Karim registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Karim, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 75 births in 2024, compared with 75 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Karim by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Karim 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 | #594 | 317 | 5 |
| 2010s | #757 | 432 | 10 |
| 2000s | #675 | 367 | 10 |
| 1990s | #533 | 139 | 4 |
Geography
Where Karim is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Karim. 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.
Karim ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #614 in 2023.
Across the UK
Karim in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#614 in 2023
9 years of NRS records, 31 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Karim
-
Karim Kerbouche
ice hockey player
Algerian ice hockey player
1982-
-
Karim Patwa
screenwriter; film director
Swiss film director
1968-
-
Karim Oualnan
lawyer
Solicitor
-
Karim Benze
British politician
Related
Names similar to Karim
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Karim: questions and answers
How popular is the name Karim in the UK right now?
In 2024, Karim was ranked #519 for boys in England and Wales, with 75 births registered.
When was Karim most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 75 babies registered as Karim in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Karim?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "generous" or "noble".
How many people are called Karim in the UK?
A total of 1,255 babies have been registered as Karim across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 31 more in Scotland.
Where is Karim most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Karim ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #614 in 2023. 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.