UK girl's name
Karima
A feminine Arabic name meaning "generous" or "noble".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Karima is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Karima popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2689, with 9 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 15 births.
This profile covers 241 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 240 living people in the UK are called Karima. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Karima ranked #2689 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 9 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 15 girls were registered as Karima.
- • About 240 living people in the UK are estimated to have Karima as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2689
2023
Births in 2023
9
Latest year
Peak year
2008
15 births
Estimated living
240
2026
Meaning
What does Karima mean?
The name Karima has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "karim," which means "generous" or "noble." It is a feminine name that has been in use since ancient times in the Middle Eastern and North African regions.
Karima has been a popular name among Muslims, as it reflects the Islamic values of generosity and nobility. The name has also been associated with the Arabic word "karam," which means "honor" or "dignity."
In Islamic literature, the name Karima is mentioned in several ancient texts and religious scriptures. One notable reference is in the Quran, where the word "karim" is used to describe the Prophet Muhammad and other revered figures.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Karima can be traced back to the 7th century CE, during the time of the Islamic Golden Age. Several historical figures bore this name, including Karima al-Marwaziyya, a renowned female scholar and poet who lived in the 9th century CE.
Other notable women throughout history who were named Karima include:
1. Karima al-Hadrami (1088-1174 CE), a Yemeni poet and mystic. 2. Karima Merrill (1869-1941), an American philanthropist and art collector. 3. Karima Bennoune (born 1966), an Algerian-American scholar and human rights activist. 4. Karima El-Mahroug (born 1992), an Italian-Moroccan woman involved in a high-profile legal case in Italy. 5. Karima Christmas (born 1994), an American professional basketball player.
While the name Karima has its roots in the Arab world, it has gained popularity across various cultures and ethnicities over time, reflecting its positive connotations of generosity and nobility.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Karima over time
The chart below shows babies named Karima registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Karima, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 9 births in 2023, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Karima by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Karima 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 | #2629 | 28 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3334 | 75 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1923 | 110 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2445 | 28 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Karima
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Karima: questions and answers
How popular is the name Karima in the UK right now?
In 2023, Karima was ranked #2689 for girls in England and Wales, with 9 births registered.
When was Karima most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 15 babies registered as Karima in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Karima?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "generous" or "noble".
How many people are called Karima in the UK?
A total of 241 babies have been registered as Karima across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.