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Kareem as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Kareem

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The baby name Kareem is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /kəˈriːm/ (kuh-REEM).

Kareem is Arabic in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Arabic
Pronunciation: /kəˈriːm/ (kuh-REEM)

What is the meaning of the name Kareem ?

The baby name Kareem is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /kəˈriːm/ (kuh-REEM).

Kareem is Arabic in Origin.

Kareem is the Anglicized spelling of Arabic Karim (كريم), from the triliteral root K‑R‑M denoting generosity, nobility, and honor. As a theophoric attribute, Al‑Karim, “the Most Generous,” is among the 99 Names of God in Islam, lending the personal name a reverent aura. The meaning encompasses “generous,” “noble,” and “bountiful,” and the name has been favored across Arabic-speaking societies for centuries.

Usage extends widely throughout the Islamic world, including North Africa, the Levant, the Gulf, Iran, South Asia, and East Africa, and entered European and North American name pools through migration and cultural influence, gaining visibility in the late 20th century (e.g., Kareem Abdul‑Jabbar). Common variants and transliterations include Karim (standard) and Kerim (Turkish/Bosnian); feminine forms are Karima and Kareema. Related theophoric compounds include Abdulkarim/Abdelkarim (“servant of the Generous”).

Kareem has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Kareem

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Actor · Born 1947 · United States Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is best known as one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history. He played 20 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, starred in college basketball at UCLA, and became famous for his dominant career and signature skyhook shot.

Celebrity babies named Kareem

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jr. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar television actor ★★★★★

Kareem – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 — 836
EG Boys 0 #29 44,807 15,035
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
EG 0 #56 1,665 6,387
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
AF 0 #76 1 1,883
QA 0 #77 24 7,011
MV Boys 0 #78 2 3,375
SI 0 #80 1 1,612
KW 0 #82 35 5,216
JM 0 #88 6 3,714
IQ 0 #91 39 3,533
AF Girls 0 #93 2 2,402
JO Boys 0 #94 843 7,057
IQ Boys 0 #99 2,187 13,071
SD 0 #99 4 2,130
OM 0 #102 15 6,215
JO 0 #105 33 2,158
PH 0 #110 1 5,607
AE 0 #113 65 10,220
PS Boys 0 #115 1,035 10,655
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
KW Boys 0 #128 1,422 18,755
CY Boys 0 #130 2 3,473
GR 0 #135 1 3,911
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
SA 0 #139 166 10,560
YE 0 #176 266 8,639
MT Boys 0 #177 3 4,064
Sweden Boys 2022 #179 4 1,509
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
PS 0 #188 31 5,692
JM Boys 0 #192 81 6,876
RU 0 #194 1 3,641
IL Boys 0 #208 722 10,983
SY 0 #209 1,233 11,684
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
NG 0 #225 40 5,926
QA Boys 0 #231 674 18,093
AE Boys 0 #240 1,954 22,615
AF Boys 0 #241 30 3,535
SA Boys 0 #241 5,854 28,008
Canada Boys 2024 #242 65 2,588
GH 0 #246 3 5,396
GR Girls 0 #249 1 6,293
IL 0 #252 23 6,291
NA Boys 0 #253 1 6,830
NG Boys 0 #255 1,879 16,906
TW Boys 0 #256 1 7,111
GR Boys 0 #269 5 6,912
JM Girls 0 #272 7 7,507
LY 0 #277 297 12,703
SD Boys 0 #286 167 10,523
BH 0 #290 285 17,937
KZ Boys 0 #292 5 6,578
QA Girls 0 #292 25 15,378
JP Boys 0 #298 6 7,909
AL Boys 0 #303 1 5,122
CZ Boys 0 #303 3 6,530
JO Girls 0 #305 21 7,570
DK Boys 0 #309 17 7,401
CN Boys 0 #325 7 9,639
PE 0 #329 1 6,350
GH Boys 0 #335 11 8,138
GH Girls 0 #335 3 6,973
EG Girls 0 #340 1,181 14,742
PL Boys 0 #340 1 6,459
MY 0 #352 3 12,352
SD Girls 0 #354 5 7,678
NG Girls 0 #356 643 15,093
MU Boys 0 #365 5 8,477
LB 0 #367 346 13,263
OM Girls 0 #371 26 15,987
PT Boys 0 #380 2 7,951
France Boys 2021 #384 4 2,865
Finland Boys 0 #400 28 2,041
PH Boys 0 #403 6 11,440
BD Girls 0 #406 1 8,413
BO 0 #408 1 6,868
OM Boys 0 #413 609 17,948
Austria Boys 0 #431 12 2,180
MX 0 #444 2 8,339
IQ Girls 0 #450 55 11,303
KW Girls 0 #464 52 19,177
PA Boys 0 #470 12 9,305
ZA 0 #472 3 14,421
CR Boys 0 #476 12 10,188
AE Girls 0 #486 68 20,968
PS Girls 0 #486 38 10,981
RU Boys 0 #492 14 12,621
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
PA Girls 0 #516 3 9,861
IR Boys 0 #522 31 10,162
United States Boys 2024 #538 403 7,044
IR Girls 0 #544 2 8,334
HK Boys 0 #553 5 12,905
CM Girls 0 #560 1 11,671
CR Girls 0 #573 1 11,342
CM Boys 0 #575 1 12,054
IL Girls 0 #593 25 11,648
BD Boys 0 #598 8 10,045
IN Girls 0 #621 11 13,121
AR Girls 0 #630 1 8,289
Finland Boys 2026 #664 19 3,552
SG Boys 0 #685 13 17,960
CL Boys 0 #699 2 13,390
SA Girls 0 #736 200 25,931
TN 0 #800 30 13,765
IN Boys 0 #856 146 16,750
NL Boys 0 #879 73 5,873
Germany Boys 0 #895 58 5,697
CL Girls 0 #910 6 14,098
United States Girls 2013 #916 5 9,616
PE Boys 0 #926 1 14,506
MX Boys 0 #952 31 16,355
CO Boys 0 #981 1 15,656
BR Girls 0 #991 2 12,708
PE Girls 0 #1,007 4 14,861
MY Boys 0 #1,043 69 25,439
TR 0 #1,046 166 19,440
MA 0 #1,057 72 20,986
MY Girls 0 #1,071 2 24,821
DZ 0 #1,136 41 20,130
ZA Boys 0 #1,139 40 25,619
CO Girls 0 #1,149 4 16,140
MX Girls 0 #1,172 12 17,781
ZA Girls 0 #1,235 2 25,928
IT Boys 0 #1,390 82 10,046

Kareem is popular in 71 countries — most recent births per country:

Canada
United States
Sweden
New York City (Black, non-Hispanic), United States
Ireland

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People also ask about Kareem

Kareem is predominantly a boy's name.
Kareem is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /kəˈriːm/ (kuh-REEM).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Karim, Kerim, Kerem, Karīm and Karem.
Across languages, Kareem has these equivalents: Karima (feminine form), Karam (related Arabic noun, 'generosity'), Kerem (Turkish cognate).
Yes, very popular — Kareem ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 7 countries.
Kareem ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Kareem's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #294 in 2014 to #242 in 2024 in Canada.
Yes — 1 notable people named Kareem are in our database, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Actor).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Kareem for their child, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.