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Karthik

Boy name · Indian

Meaningborn under the Pleiades · Tamil

Karthik is an Indian boy name meaning “born under the Pleiades”, with Tamil roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.

Did you know?

  • Word funKarthik starts and ends with the same letter, K. A neat little bookend.
  • Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Karthik would score 18 points, thanks largely to the K (worth 5).
  • GenerationKarthik peaked in 2010, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Karthik you'd meet today is about 15 years old.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Karthik would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 85,470 baby boys got the name in 2025.
  • HistoryKarthik first shows up in US birth records in 1977, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 48 years since.
Toddler sitting among toys
hello, little Karthik

US births per million boys, 1977–2025

02142197720002025

Similar names

Unisex name: KarterUnisex name: KarsonBoy name: KareemBoy name: KarimBoy name: KarlBoy name: Karam
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Karthik

Karthik is a boy name of Indian origin meaning “born under the Pleiades”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the consonant at the end gives it a confident finish. It hit its peak in the 2010s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Indian names

More Indian boy names

Questions about the name Karthik

What does the name Karthik mean?

Karthik means “born under the Pleiades” and comes from Tamil.

What is the origin of the name Karthik?

Karthik is Indian in origin, and its meaning traces back to Tamil. Other Indian names to consider are Makai (“toward the sea”), Arjun (“bright, shining”), Zain (“beauty, grace”) and Idris (“possibly studious”).

Is Karthik a boy or girl name?

Karthik is a boy name. In 2025, 20 US boys were named Karthik.

How popular is the name Karthik?

Karthik ranked #4,857 for US boys in 2025, given to 20 babies. Its best year was 2010, when it reached #1,834. Over the last five years it has slipped 1,439 places.

What should I know before naming my baby Karthik?

Karthik is an Indian boy name meaning “born under the Pleiades”, with Tamil roots. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds crisp and confident, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.