Karim
BoyArabic · Arabic /ka.ˈriːm/: ka-REEM, with a long ee sound.
Karim pairs a generous meaning with a crisp opening and a soft m ending. Its Arabic pronunciation gives the second syllable room to linger.
Origin
Arabic
Pronunciation
Arabic /ka.ˈriːm/: ka-REEM, with a long ee sound.
Generous; noble.
Karim is a masculine Arabic name written كريم. Its meaning brings together generosity and nobility of character: “noble” here can describe a fine quality of spirit, rather than a title or rank. The word also has a religious resonance through al-Karīm, one of the names of God in Islamic tradition. In Arabic, the name is pronounced ka-REEM, with two syllables and a long second vowel. The spelling Kareem makes that long vowel more visible to an English reader; Karim is another rendering of the same Arabic name. Neither spelling adds a different meaning. The firm k opening gives Karim a clear outline, while the final m softens it. To our ear, that balance makes the name feel friendly without sounding diminutive. Its appeal lies in having a warm meaning and an uncluttered sound together.
Etymology: From Arabic karīm (كَرِيم), an adjective meaning generous or noble, from the root k-r-m.
Spelling table
Code
-.- .- .-. .. --
Listen to the dots and dashes, or choose Slow to follow each letter.
Braille
⠠⠅⠁⠗⠊⠍
Name popularity
Latest year: 2025
Boys
Rank1,084
Girls
RankNot reported
Source
SSA records cover Social Security card applications, not every US birth. Names with fewer than 5 occurrences are omitted; gaps do not mean zero. Spellings are kept separate, except that SSA removes spaces and hyphens. Equal counts are ranked alphabetically. Ranks are calculated separately for boys and girls.
Origin
Arabic
Variants & spellings