Karma Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Karma originates from the Sanskrit word meaning 'action' or 'deed'. It embodies the principle of cause and effect, particularly in Eastern philosophies. Over time, the concept has evolved through various languages, maintaining its core significance. Karma is generally associated with positive traits, reflecting justice and balance. There is no biblical relevance to the term, and it gained popularity in the West during the 20th century, particularly during the counterculture movement.
The name Karma is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Karma has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Karma' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 10093rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6091st out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3842nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1908th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1857th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1872nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5065th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1227th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1208th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Karma' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Karma"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɑːrmə/
Origin
Sanskrit
Etymology
The term 'karma' comes from the Sanskrit word 'कर्म' (karman), which means 'action' or 'deed'. It is often associated with the concept of cause and effect in Buddhist and Hindu philosophies.
Meaning
action, deed, fate, destiny
Language Evolution
Sanskrit: कर्म (karman), Pali: kamma, Tibetan: las, Chinese: karma (因果, yīnguǒ)
Historical Usage
The concept of karma gained popularity in the Western world in the 20th century, particularly with the rise of interest in Eastern religions and philosophies during the 1960s and 1970s.
Variants & Derivatives
Karmic, Karmah
Modern Popularity & Image
Karma is often perceived positively in contemporary culture, symbolizing justice and balance, where good actions lead to positive outcomes and bad actions lead to negative consequences.
Famous People
Karma Chamelee, Karma Wilson
Explore More Karma Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Karma"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Karma"
"Karma" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 10093rd of 24088 | 84 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6091st of 23106 | 170 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3842nd of 9107 | 102 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1908th of 9204 | 342 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1857th of 12526 | 630 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1872nd of 19264 | 768 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 5065th of 27321 | 272 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1227th of 35406 | 2,933 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1208th of 30306 | 2,423 |
Regional Popularity of "Karma" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
70.82% 3657th/5164 |
- | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
51.28% 2301st/4487 |
- | - |
Regional Popularity of "Karma" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - |
64.80% 740th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - |
38.07% 589th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
74.99% 1670th/2227 |
- | - |
48.14% 1336th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
63.09% 1853rd/2937 |
- |
78.14% 2749th/3518 |
38.23% 1546th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
80.86% 5108th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
20.82% 954th/4582 |
35.07% 1811th/5164 |
14.67% 1073rd/7313 |
19.21% 1434th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
25.03% 997th/3984 |
31.49% 1413th/4487 |
16.93% 1155th/6822 |
24.92% 1564th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Karma"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Karma" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.