Given name & surname
Karima
“one who is generous and noble”
In Arabic use, Karima carries the interpretation “one who is generous and noble.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Arabic use, Karima carries the interpretation “one who is generous and noble.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Arabic.
How it developed
Karima is used as a feminine counterpart of Karim.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1967. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Karima through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,474
- 0 boys · 1,474 girls
- Most popular year
- 1979
- 63 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #7,673 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −17%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 7,673 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 17.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 63 in 1979. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,635 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Karima’s family of names
Karima is a feminine form of Karim. Karima has a related form in Kareema. Karima has a related form in Karimah.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 2
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Karima
- Mathilda MayFrench actressborn 1965
- Karima AdebibeBritish actress and modelborn 1985
- Karima DelliFrench politicianborn 1979
- Karima BalochPakistani human rights activist1983–2020
- Karima Benameur TaiebAlgerian and French footballerborn 1989
- Karima Christmas-KellyAmerican basketball player (born 1989)
- Karima MokhtarEgyptian actress (1934–2017)
- Karima al-Marwaziyya11th century hadith scholar975–1070
- Karima SouidTunisian politicianborn 1971
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Karima, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Khalilah
“a beloved friend”
>99% girls
Talitha
“a maiden; young girl”
>99% girls
Candy
“a queen” · “one who is white and glowing”
>99% girls
Jamila
“a beautiful and elegant lady”
>99% girls
Farrah
“fair-haired woman” · “one who bears the burden”
>99% girls
Aisha
“lively; womanly”
>99% girls
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“our little bird”
>99% girls
Rana
“an eyecatching, beautiful object” · “an eye-catching woman; to gaze upon”
15% boys · 85% girls