NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Kerem

Masculine name of Turkish origin meaning "vineyard, orchard, or garden".

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.

Kerem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kerem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1402, with 19 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 25 births.

This profile covers 431 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 76% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 431 living people in the UK are called Kerem. 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

  • Kerem ranked #1402 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 19 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 25 boys were registered as Kerem.
  • Kerem ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.
  • About 431 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kerem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1402

2024

Births in 2024

19

Latest year

Peak year

2016

25 births

Estimated living

431

2026

Meaning

What does Kerem mean?

The given name Kerem has its origins in the Turkish language. It is derived from the Persian word "karam," which means "generosity" or "kindness." The name can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire and the Islamic culture that flourished in the region.

One of the earliest recorded appearances of the name Kerem is in the 16th-century Turkish folk literature, particularly in the story of "Kerem and Asli," a tragic love tale that has been passed down through generations. This epic poem is a significant work in Turkish literature and has inspired numerous artistic interpretations, including operas and films.

In Islamic tradition, the name Kerem is often associated with the concept of hospitality and generosity, which are highly valued virtues in the religion. Some scholars suggest that the name may have been influenced by the Arabic word "karam," which also carries a similar meaning.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Kerem. One of the earliest recorded individuals was Kerem Bey, a 14th-century Ottoman statesman and military commander who served during the reign of Sultan Murad I (1326-1389). Another prominent figure was Kerem Pasha, an Ottoman grand vizier who lived in the 16th century and played a crucial role in the administration of the empire.

In the 18th century, Kerem Mustafa Pasha (1688-1758) was a distinguished Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier from 1737 to 1743. He was known for his efforts to modernize the Ottoman Empire and strengthen its diplomatic relations with European powers.

Moving into the 20th century, Kerem Alışık (1914-1970) was a renowned Turkish actor and singer who gained immense popularity for his roles in numerous films and his contributions to Turkish folk music.

Another notable figure was Kerem Güney (1923-1996), a Turkish intellectual, writer, and politician who played a significant role in the development of leftist movements in Turkey. He was also a prominent figure in the Kurdish nationalist movement and advocated for the rights of the Kurdish people.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Kerem throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the cultural richness and legacy associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kerem over time

The chart below shows babies named Kerem 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 Kerem, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 19 births in 2024, compared with 25 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kerem
06131925199620102024

Decades

Kerem by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kerem 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 #1334 98 5
2010s #1341 192 10
2000s #1582 115 10
1990s #1735 26 4

Geography

Where Kerem is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Kerem. 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.

Kerem ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2013.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Kerem in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#687 in 2013

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Kerem

FAQ

Kerem: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Kerem was ranked #1402 for boys in England and Wales, with 19 births registered.

When was Kerem most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 25 babies registered as Kerem in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kerem?

Masculine name of Turkish origin meaning "vineyard, orchard, or garden".

How many people are called Kerem in the UK?

A total of 431 babies have been registered as Kerem across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Kerem most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Kerem ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #687 in 2013. 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.