UK boy's name
Karun
A name of Indian origin meaning "having lovely eyes".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Karun is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Karun popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4608, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 7 births.
This profile covers 58 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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.
The latest count is about 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 57 living people in the UK are called Karun. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Karun ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 7 boys were registered as Karun.
- • About 57 living people in the UK are estimated to have Karun as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4608
2020
Births in 2020
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
7 births
Estimated living
57
2026
Meaning
What does Karun mean?
The name Karun is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was widely spoken in the Indian subcontinent. The name Karun is derived from the Sanskrit word "karuna," which means "compassion" or "mercy."
In Hindu mythology, Karun is mentioned as one of the names of Lord Vishnu, who is the preserver deity in the Hindu trinity. The name Karun is often associated with qualities such as kindness, empathy, and benevolence, which are considered virtues in Hindu philosophy.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Karun can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures, such as the Puranas and the Upanishads. These texts date back to around the 8th century BCE and contain stories and teachings related to various deities and philosophical concepts.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Karun. One of the most famous was Karun Nair (1711-1779), an Indian warrior and chieftain from the Kingdom of Travancore (present-day Kerala, India). He is remembered for his bravery and military prowess in defending his kingdom against foreign invaders.
Another prominent figure with the name Karun was Karun Chandhok (born 1984), an Indian racing driver who has competed in various international motorsport events, including Formula One and the IndyCar Series.
In the realm of literature, Karun Nair (born 1954) is a renowned Indian writer and poet who has received several prestigious awards for his contributions to Malayalam literature.
Karun Sharma (born 1988) is an Indian cricketer who has represented the Indian national team in various formats of the game. He is known for his batting prowess and has scored several centuries in domestic and international cricket.
Karun Rishi (born 1972) is an Indian-American film and television actor who has appeared in various popular shows and movies, including The Terminal and New Amsterdam.
It is worth noting that while the name Karun has its roots in the Sanskrit language and Hindu culture, it has gained popularity across various regions and communities, transcending cultural and linguistic boundaries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Karun over time
The chart below shows babies named Karun registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Karun, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Karun by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Karun 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4608 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4675 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #2764 | 29 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2072 | 20 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Karun
- 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
Karun: questions and answers
How popular is the name Karun in the UK right now?
In 2020, Karun was ranked #4608 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Karun most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 7 babies registered as Karun in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Karun?
A name of Indian origin meaning "having lovely eyes".
How many people are called Karun in the UK?
A total of 58 babies have been registered as Karun across the 13 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.