Find out how popular the first name Kala has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Kala by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Kala is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 99% of people named Kala being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 18 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Kala.

The history of the first name Kala

The name Kala has its origins in several ancient languages and cultures. In Sanskrit, a classical language of the Indian subcontinent, Kala means "time" or "death". It is also associated with the Hindu deity Shiva, who is sometimes referred to as Kala or Kalabhairava, signifying his destructive aspect as the lord of time and death.

In the Ramayana, one of the major Sanskrit epics, Kala is mentioned as a demon who was defeated by the hero Rama. Additionally, in Buddhist texts from ancient India, Kala is personified as the lord of death, akin to the concept of the Grim Reaper in Western cultures.

The name Kala also has roots in the ancient Greek language, where it means "beautiful". This Greek origin is reflected in the name's use in various parts of the Mediterranean region and Europe throughout history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kala is from ancient Egypt, where it was a feminine name meaning "the black one" or "the dark one". This Egyptian variant of the name was likely influenced by the Greek meaning of "beautiful", as ancient Egyptians often associated darkness with beauty and fertility.

Some notable historical figures with the name Kala include:

1. Kala Naag, a legendary serpent king in Hindu mythology, believed to have lived during the Treta Yuga.

2. Kala Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva, revered in Tantric traditions of Hinduism.

3. Kala Azar, an ancient Indian king mentioned in the Mahabharata, one of the longest epic poems in the world.

4. Kala Samudra, a legendary ocean mentioned in Hindu scriptures, believed to be a metaphor for the cycle of time and rebirth.

5. Kala-Sarpa, a mythical serpent in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, representing the cycle of time and the endless struggle between good and evil.

While the name Kala has different meanings and origins across various cultures, it is undoubtedly a name with deep historical and mythological significance, particularly in the Indian subcontinent and the Mediterranean region.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Kala was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kala, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!