Declining since 1991, #6,446 for boys today.
Popularity of Rakim since 1981
Babies named Rakim per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 172 |
| 1990s | 563 |
| 2000s | 237 |
| 2010s | 221 |
| 2020s | 129 |
Meaning & origin
Rakim is a name of Arabic origin, typically considered a variant of Rahim, meaning 'merciful' or 'compassionate.' In the United States, the name first appeared in Social Security records in 1981, and it saw its highest usage in 1992, when it ranked 6446 nationally. Since then, its popularity has been on a falling trajectory, with a notable decline beginning around 1991. As of 2025, approximately 1 in 131,390 boys are named Rakim each year. The name has not been heavily concentrated in any particular region, as no states recorded it as a top choice. Rakim is a distinctive name that carries a strong cultural and spiritual resonance for many families.
Rakim is a variant transliteration of the Arabic name Rahim, which is derived from the root r-h-m (raheem), meaning merciful or compassionate. It is closely related to one of the 99 names of God (Al-Rahim). The name has been used across the Arabic-speaking world as a given name, often reflecting a family's religious or cultural heritage.
“Rakim” around the world
Where Rakim lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Rakim
Names that share Rakim's style, for a brother or sister.
