Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Karthik isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1977. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Karthik through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,495
- 1,495 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2010
- 79 babies
- 2025
- 20
- #4,949 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −48%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 20 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,949 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 48.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 79 in 2010. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,452 as a first name in 2020; 1,634 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Karthik’s family of names
Karthik may belong to the same name family as KARRTHIK. This is a tentative spelling connection.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Karthik
- Karthik Subbarajfilm directorborn 1983
- Karthik RajaIndian composerborn 1973
- Karti ChidambaramMember of Parliament, Lok Sabhaborn 1971
- Karthik KumarIndian actorborn 1977
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Karthik, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Camdon
“of the enclosed valley” · “from the winding valley”
>99% boys
Carrson
>99% boys
Kawhi
>99% boys
Candan
“a sincere man”
>99% boys
Kaelen
“a mighty warrior”
90% boys · 10% girls
Kahden
>99% boys
Cadian
“rhythmic and melodious; a musical woman” · “rhythmic and melodious; a musical man”
>99% boys
Kaidan
“a beloved companion”
96% boys · 4% girls