Fun Facts About the Name Kareema
- 792 babies named Kareema: U.S. records list 792 babies given the name Kareema from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Kareema Mean?
Kareema is a feminine Arabic name meaning "generous" or "noble," and it is the feminine form of the masculine name Karim. Both come from the Arabic root k-r-m (ك-ر-م), which carries the sense of generosity, honor, and nobility of character. The masculine Karīm (كريم) follows the Arabic adjective pattern faʿīl, often used to express a quality intensely, so Karīm suggests someone thoroughly generous or honorable. The feminine is formed by adding the feminine ending, giving Karīma (كريمة), which English speakers commonly spell Kareema. The literal sense is "generous (female)" or "noble (female)," and the customary interpretation in Muslim cultures is a person of generous and honorable character. Al-Karīm, "the Generous," is also one of the names of God in Islamic tradition, which gives the name a religious resonance without changing its basic meaning.
Kareema Name History & Origins
Kareema entered use as the feminine counterpart of Karim, a name well established in Arabic-speaking lands before it spread to other languages. Arabic naming custom frequently pairs masculine and feminine forms from a single root, and Karima belongs to that pattern. The name appears in medieval Arabic biographical literature; among the notable bearers is Karima bint Ahmad al-Marwaziyya, a hadith transmitter of the eleventh century who was praised by scholars of her era for her reliability, showing the name in learned circles of the period.
As Islam spread, the name traveled with it into Persian-, Turkish-, and Urdu-speaking regions and into parts of Africa where Arabic naming traditions took hold. The spelling "Kareema" reflects an English transliteration in which a long ī sound is written as "ee"; the same name also appears as Karima, Kareemah, and Karimah, with the choice of spelling often depending on the region and the transliteration conventions in use. The spelling does not indicate a separate origin.
How Popular is the Name Kareema?
Kareema has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1984. Its best rank was #2,701 in 1984.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #16,075 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #14,650 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #11,132 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #13,790 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #15,547 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #18,172 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #11,667 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #10,109 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #7,876 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2008 | #9,770 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #9,274 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #10,235 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #11,352 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #8,480 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #7,386 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #6,865 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #5,943 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2000 | #5,810 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #6,330 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1998 | #5,928 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #4,291 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1996 | #4,510 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1995 | #3,719 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1994 | #3,741 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1993 | #4,454 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1992 | #3,370 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1991 | #5,082 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1990 | #3,564 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1989 | #4,177 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1988 | #3,951 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1987 | #5,167 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #4,621 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1985 | #3,910 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #2,701 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1983 | #3,741 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1982 | #3,583 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1981 | #3,173 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1980 | #3,555 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1979 | #3,826 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1978 | #3,690 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1977 | #4,518 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #3,871 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1975 | #3,685 | 18 | 0.0012% |
| 1974 | #5,975 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #5,341 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1972 | #4,918 | 11 | 0.0007% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Kareema Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Kareema's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kareema's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.