Find out how popular the first name Karna has been for the last 26 years (from 1975 to 2000) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Karna by gender

Based on the last 26 years of data, Karna is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 93% of people named Karna being female.

For the most recent data in 2000, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Karna.

It's also interesting to see that despite Karna being historically a mostly female name, the most recent data from 2000 shows a shift in the trend, with more male babies being named Karna.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby boys were named Karna in 2000, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Karna

The name Karna originates from Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "karna," which means "ear" or "having large ears." The name can be traced back to the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE.

In the Mahabharata, Karna is the name of one of the central characters, a tragic hero who was born to the Sun God Surya and the princess Kunti. Despite being a skilled warrior and a loyal friend, Karna's life was marked by suffering and misfortune due to his illegitimate birth and the circumstances surrounding it.

The earliest recorded use of the name Karna can be found in the Mahabharata itself, where it is mentioned numerous times throughout the epic. Over the centuries, the name has been popular among Hindus, particularly in India, and has been carried by several notable historical figures.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Karna was Karna Malla, a ruler of the Malla dynasty who reigned in the Kathmandu Valley (now part of Nepal) in the 12th century CE. Another famous Karna was Karna Tapa, a Bengali poet and philosopher who lived in the 16th century and wrote several works on Tantra and Vaishnavism.

In more recent history, Karna Bahadur Kunwar was a Nepalese military leader who played a significant role in the Nepali-Tibetan War of 1855-1856. He was awarded the title of "Shumsher Jung Kunwar" for his bravery and military leadership.

Another notable figure named Karna was Karna Singh, a prominent Rajput ruler who served as the Raja of Bikaner (in present-day Rajasthan, India) from 1638 to 1667. He was known for his military campaigns and for expanding the territory of his kingdom.

In the 20th century, Karna Bahadur Basnyat was a Nepalese politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Nepal from 1957 to 1959. He played a crucial role in the democratization of Nepal and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy.

While the name Karna has its roots in Hindu mythology and Sanskrit, it has transcended its cultural and linguistic boundaries and has been adopted by people from various backgrounds around the world, particularly in South Asia and among the Indian diaspora.

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 Karna was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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