Karam
A masculine name of Arabic origin meaning "generosity", "honor", or "nobility".
Name Census estimates that about 1,511 living Americans carry the first name Karam. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Karam today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Karam births was 2024 (137 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Karam. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Karam is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 12 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.5K
~ 1 in 226,839 Americans
Peak year
2024
137 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,370
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Karam: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Karam from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 699 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Karam remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Karam by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Karam during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Karams live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. California, Texas, Illinois recorded the most babies named Karam, while Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 68 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Karam
The name Karam has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with a history that can be traced back to ancient times. The word "karam" in Arabic means generosity, nobility, and magnanimity, reflecting the virtues associated with this name.
In the Islamic tradition, the concept of karam is highly revered and considered an essential quality for a person of faith. The name Karam can be found in various Islamic texts and historical records, often used to describe individuals who embodied these noble traits.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Karam dates back to the 7th century CE, during the early years of the Islamic era. Karam ibn al-Harith was a prominent companion of the Prophet Muhammad and is remembered for his generosity and commitment to the faith.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Karam. In the 12th century, Karam Khan was a revered Sufi saint and scholar from present-day Afghanistan. His teachings and writings on spirituality and wisdom have left a lasting impact on Islamic mysticism.
During the Mamluk period in Egypt, Karam al-Din al-Kabir (1456-1535) was a renowned historian and scholar who contributed significantly to the preservation of historical records and literary works from that era.
In more recent times, Karam Chand Thapar (1904-1984) was an influential Indian industrialist and philanthropist, known for his contributions to the business and social sectors of the country.
Another notable figure was Karam Masih (1920-1992), a Pakistani Christian who played a pivotal role in promoting interfaith harmony and advocating for the rights of religious minorities in the region.
The name Karam has transcended its Arabic roots and has been embraced by various cultures and communities around the world, often carrying the same connotations of generosity, nobility, and kindness.
People
Karam + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Karam as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Karam: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Karam?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,511 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Karam going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 226,839 US residents.
Is Karam a common name?
We classify Karam as "Rare". It ranks above 92.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,526 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Karam most popular?
The single biggest year for Karam was 2024, when 137 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Karam is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Karam a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Karam in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.