Holding steady.
Popularity of Karan since 1936
Babies named Karan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 64 | 0 |
| 1940s | 769 | 0 |
| 1950s | 1,316 | 0 |
| 1960s | 849 | 0 |
| 1970s | 267 | 5 |
| 1980s | 105 | 111 |
| 1990s | 60 | 529 |
| 2000s | 20 | 552 |
| 2010s | 0 | 234 |
| 2020s | 0 | 81 |
Meaning & origin
Karan is a name of Sanskrit origin that has been used in India for centuries. In the United States, it first appeared in Social Security records in 1936, and its peak year of usage was 1956. The name has shown stable, low-frequency usage over the decades, with no dramatic rises or falls. Though it has never entered the top 1000, it remains a recognizable choice, particularly among families with Indian heritage. Its ambiguous meaning adds a layer of mystery, and its simplicity makes it easy to pronounce across languages.
The name Karan has roots in Sanskrit, where it appears in ancient Hindu texts. It is also a variant of the name Karna, a key character in the Mahabharata. The name has been used in India and among the Indian diaspora. Its exact meaning is debated; it may derive from 'karuna' (compassion) or 'karan' (instrument, cause).
“Karan” around the world
Where Karan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: K, Kaz
Sibling names for Karan
Names that share Karan's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Anjali, Priya, Meera, Rani, Sonia, Priyanka, Sahana, Sanjana, Ankita, Avneet, Janvi, Mahima, Mannat, Megha, Avleen, Avnoor, Ayushi, Hansika, Harnoor, Harshini, Mahek, Nandita, Nishtha, Simar, Vanshika, Yashna, Japji, Baani, Gurbani, Gurmehar, Harsimran, Keerat, Maanvi, Simrat
Brothers: Arjun, Ravi, Vikram, Raj, Sanjay, Ishaan, Mihir, Rohit, Shaan, Varun, Yuvraj, Abhay, Abhishek, Angad, Anuj, Chirag, Ekam, Manav, Navin, Pratik, Rajveer, Tarun, Vaibhav, Anmol, Anoop, Anshul, Harsha, Jasraj, Kushal, Manvir, Neeraj, Nihaal, Nishan, Paras, Prateek, Ranbir, Rishav, Sartaj, Saurav, Sharvil, Sujay, Vansh, Bharat, Kanishk, Rajvir, Aravind, Jaidev, Jashan, Jorawar, Khush, Parthiv, Prabhjot, Raji, Sharad, Shivin
