UK boy's name
Karna
A masculine name of Hindu mythology meaning "the one having ears".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Karna is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Karna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3134, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2001 to 2001. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Karna is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Karna. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Karna ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 3 boys were registered as Karna.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Karna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3134
2001
Births in 2001
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Karna mean?
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.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Karna by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Karna was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3134 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Karna
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Karna: questions and answers
How popular is the name Karna in the UK right now?
In 2001, Karna was ranked #3134 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Karna most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 3 babies registered as Karna in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Karna?
A masculine name of Hindu mythology meaning "the one having ears".
How many people are called Karna in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Karna across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.