UK boy's name
Kerim
An 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.
Kerim is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kerim popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 14 births.
This profile covers 225 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 223 living people in the UK are called Kerim. 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
- • Kerim ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 14 boys were registered as Kerim.
- • About 223 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kerim as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2008
14 births
Estimated living
223
2026
Meaning
What does Kerim mean?
The given name Kerim is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "karīm" which means "noble", "generous", or "honorable". It has its roots in ancient Arabic culture and can be traced back to the 7th century CE, around the time of the emergence of Islam and the spread of the Arabic language across the Middle East and North Africa.
Kerim is a name that has been mentioned in various Islamic texts and historical records. In the Quran, the term "karīm" is used to describe Allah (God) and his noble attributes. Additionally, one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad was known as Kerim ibn Anas, who lived during the 7th century CE and participated in the early Islamic conquests.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Kerim can be found in the writings of the famous Arab poet and scholar, Abu Nuwas, who lived in the 8th century CE. He composed poems praising individuals named Kerim, indicating the name's popularity during that time.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Kerim. One such individual was Kerim Khan Zand (1705-1779 CE), who was the founder and ruler of the Zand dynasty in Persia (present-day Iran). He is celebrated for his military prowess and for reviving Persian culture and arts during his reign.
Another prominent figure was Kerim Sami Pasha (1835-1913), an Ottoman statesman and diplomat who served as the Grand Vizier (Prime Minister) of the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century. He played a significant role in implementing reforms and modernizing the Ottoman state.
In the realm of literature, Kerim Nadir (1856-1927) was a renowned Azerbaijani playwright, novelist, and journalist. His works were instrumental in the development of modern Azerbaijani literature and in promoting national identity.
Kerim Kerimov (1917-2003) was a Soviet and Russian actor who had a prolific career spanning over six decades. He is celebrated for his performances in numerous films and theatrical productions, and was honored with several awards for his contributions to the arts.
Kerim Bazi (born 1962) is a contemporary Kurdish writer and poet from Turkey. He has published numerous works exploring themes of identity, exile, and the Kurdish struggle, and his poetry has been translated into multiple languages.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the name Kerim, highlighting its enduring presence across various cultures, religions, and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kerim over time
The chart below shows babies named Kerim 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 Kerim, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kerim by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kerim 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 | #3433 | 21 | 4 |
| 2010s | #2073 | 107 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2010 | 72 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1516 | 25 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Kerim
- 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
Kerim: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kerim in the UK right now?
In 2024, Kerim was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Kerim most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 14 babies registered as Kerim in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kerim?
An Arabic name meaning "generous" or "noble".
How many people are called Kerim in the UK?
A total of 225 babies have been registered as Kerim across the 26 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.