Total births
159
Boys' name · since 1972
Kariem
Since 1972, U.S. Social Security records show 159 babies named Kariem, peaking in 1975. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 159
- total births
- 1972–2025
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 43%
- born in that decade
Kariem is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 159 have been recorded since 1972.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Kariem has been recorded 159 times among boys since 1972, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1970s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1972 to 2025.
- 159 total births
- 1972–2025 years on record
- 1970s peak decade
- 43% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
159 boys have been named Kariem since 1972, peaking in the 1970s, last recorded in 2025.
- 159
- total births
- 1972–2025
- years on record
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 43%
- born in that decade
1970s
Peak decade
43% of everyone ever named Kariem was born in this single decade.
1975
Single peak year
13 babies were named Kariem in 1975 - its busiest year on record.
Kariem's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Kariem splits its recorded history at 1988: 41% of all births land in the more recent half, 59% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1983 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1975 peak of 13 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Kariem at a glance
Last recorded 2025Peak year
1975
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1972
Kariem popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1972–2025
- Peak year (1975)
- 13
- Annual births at peak, across 54 years of records
Kariem by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Kariem's strongest decade.
68 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 43% of all-time use.
Kariem births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
68 births
- 1980s
1980s
33 births
- 1990s 27
1990s
27 births
- 2000s 15
2000s
15 births
- 2010s 6
2010s
6 births
- 2020s 10
2020s
10 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 68 births (43% of all-time use).
Kariem by state
Where Kariem concentrates geographically, total births since 1972
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 10 | 6.3% |
New York share of Kariem's total US births 6.3%
10 of 159 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Kariem? ▼
Kariem has been given to 159 babies in the U.S. since 1972, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2025. 13 babies were born in 1975, its single highest year.
When was Kariem most popular? ▼
Kariem was most popular in the 1970s decade with 68 total births. The single peak year was 1975.
Where is Kariem most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Kariem are New York (10 births).
How long has the name Kariem been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Kariem since 1972 -- 54 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Kariem? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Karl, Karter, Karson, Kareem, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Kariem's data
- Kariem's decade-level peak was the 1970s (68 total births); usage has since declined to 10 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Kariems (10 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Kariem
Nearby Names Like Kariem
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Kariem
Karl Boy
#1689 100,836 births
Karter Boy
#248 29,465 births
Karson Boy
#397 21,394 births
Kareem Boy
#675 18,161 births
Karim Boy
#820 6,886 births
Compare Kariem side by side: Kariem vs Karl Kariem vs Karter Kariem vs Karson
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1972–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Kariem: Baby Name Since 1972 - 159 Births, Peak 1975." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/kariem. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Kariem draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.