UK girl's name
Karthika
A feminine Sanskrit name of Hindu origin meaning "bright" or "illuminated".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Karthika is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Karthika popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2015 to 2015. 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.
Karthika is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Karthika. 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 2016 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Karthika ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 3 girls were registered as Karthika.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Karthika as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5730
2015
Births in 2015
3
Latest year
Peak year
2015
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Karthika mean?
The name Karthika has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that has been widely used in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Karthika," which means "little one" or "the one who completes." This name is closely associated with the Hindu goddess of fertility, Shakti, and is also the name of one of the nakshatras (lunar mansions) in Hindu astrology.
In Hinduism, the name Karthika holds significant religious and cultural importance. It is believed to be the birth name of Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, who is also known as the God of War and the Commander-in-Chief of the celestial army. The name is mentioned in several ancient Hindu texts, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata, which are considered sacred scriptures.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Karthika can be found in the Skanda Purana, an ancient Hindu text that dates back to around the 7th century AD. The text describes the birth and life of Lord Kartikeya, also known as Murugan or Skanda, and highlights the significance of the name Karthika.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Karthika. One such person was Karthika Thirunavukkarasu (1932-2018), a Sri Lankan Tamil writer and academic who made significant contributions to Tamil literature and language studies. Another prominent figure was Karthika Ratnam (1939-2005), an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who was instrumental in popularizing the Bharatanatyam dance form.
In the field of Indian classical music, Karthika Rajendran (born 1971) is a renowned vocalist and Carnatic music exponent, recognized for her exceptional performances and contributions to the art form. Karthika Somayaji (born 1983) is an Indian film actress and model who has appeared in various Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam movies.
Additionally, Karthika Nair (born 1991) is an Indian politician and social activist who has been actively involved in addressing issues related to women's empowerment and environmental conservation.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Karthika throughout history, reflecting its enduring cultural and religious significance within the Indian subcontinent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Karthika by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Karthika 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5730 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Karthika
- Katie 53,185
- Keira 14,411
- Katherine 11,323
- Kayleigh 10,677
- Kate 10,276
- Kelsey 7,224
- Kiera 7,218
- Kayla 6,541
- Kirsty 6,384
- Khadija 5,948
- Kimberley 5,189
- Kaitlyn 5,137
FAQ
Karthika: questions and answers
How popular is the name Karthika in the UK right now?
In 2015, Karthika was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Karthika most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 3 babies registered as Karthika in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Karthika?
A feminine Sanskrit name of Hindu origin meaning "bright" or "illuminated".
How many people are called Karthika in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Karthika 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.