Boy · #4,655 in 2026

Rakim

Rakim or Rakeem is an Arabic-language name, that is commonly given to African American males. It may be influenced by Karim, Rahim, and Hakim.

Current Rank
#4,655
Peak Rank
#1,135 (1992)
Total Babies
1K
5-Yr Trend
+11%
1981
First Year
2026
Last Year
1992
Peak Year
#1135
Peak Rank
1K
Total Count
42
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Rakim

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Rakim or Rakeem is an Arabic-language name, that is commonly given to African American males. It may be influenced by Karim, Rahim, and Hakim.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Rakim

Rakim first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1981, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1992, when 94 Rakims were born — ranking #1,135 that year. As of 2026, Rakim ranks #4,655 for baby boys with 22 births, gradually rising (+11%). In total, more than 1K Rakims have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Notable people named Rakim

A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.

  • Rakim Allen or PnB Rock (1991–2022), American rapper
  • Rakim Cox (born 1991) Canadian football player
  • Rakim Hollis (born 1980) American basketball player
  • Rakim Jarrett (born 2001), American football player
  • Rakim Mayers or ASAP Rocky (born 1988), American rapper
  • Rakim Sanders (born 1989), American basketball player
  • Rakeem Boyd (born 1998), American football player
  • Rakeem Buckles (born 1990), American professional basketball player

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Names that sound like Rakim

Phonetically similar names — useful when Rakim is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rakim

What does the name Rakim mean?
Rakim or Rakeem is an Arabic-language name, that is commonly given to African American males. It may be influenced by Karim, Rahim, and Hakim.
How popular is Rakim in 2026?
In 2026, Rakim ranks #4,655 among boys' names in the U.S., with 22 babies given the name that year.
When was Rakim most popular?
Rakim reached its peak popularity in 1992, ranking #1,135 that year with 94 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Rakim most popular?
Rakim has historically been most popular in South Carolina, New Jersey, Massachusetts. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Rakim.
Is Rakim a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Rakim is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Rakim?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Rakim include Phyllis, Sameer, Jodeci. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Rakim

Rakim is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1981 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Rakim's peak popularity came in 1992 when it ranked #1,135. Use the chart and map above to compare Rakim's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.