Karthik: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,949

among boys · ↑390 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Karthik

How common

1 in 85,404

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2010

79 babies

All-time total

1,495

#3,966 all-time among boys

First recorded

1977

in Social Security records

Karthik popularity over time

1,495 babies have been named Karthik since 1977, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	5	1	–	#6,343
1980s	71	7	+1320%	#4,051
1990s	221	22	+211%	#2,333
2000s	500	50	+126%	#2,079
2010s	561	56	+12%	#1,847
2020s (to 2025)	137	23	-59%	#3,455

Where Karthik is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	18	0.01	outside top 500
2027	17	0.01	outside top 500
2028	16	0.01	outside top 500
2029	15	0.01	outside top 500
2030	15	0.01	outside top 500

The story of Karthik

Karthik is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,949 in 2025 with 20 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1977, 1,495 American babies have been named Karthik. Its peak came in 2010, when 79 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Karthik stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Karthik?

The median living Karthik is about 16 years old; half are between 11 and 24. An estimated 1,500 people named Karthik are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Karthik year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	20	#4,949
2024	18	#5,339
2023	21	#4,811
2022	26	#4,143
2021	20	#4,857
2020	32	#3,455
2019	36	#3,226
2018	37	#3,136
2017	41	#2,922
2016	57	#2,318
2015	56	#2,335
2014	63	#2,167
2013	64	#2,101
2012	69	#2,024
2011	59	#2,220
2010	79	#1,847
2009	56	#2,334
2008	57	#2,304
2007	62	#2,176
2006	57	#2,235
2005	44	#2,545
2004	41	#2,620
2003	45	#2,376
2002	52	#2,079
2001	45	#2,262
2000	41	#2,359
1995	17	#3,769
1990	9	#5,601
1985	8	#4,932
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Karthik, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Karthik?

The median living Karthik is about 16 years old. Half of all living Karthiks are between 11 and 24 years old.

How many people named Karthik are alive today?

An estimated 1,500 people named Karthik are alive in the United States, based on 1,495 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Karthik in 2025?

Karthik ranked #4,949 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 20 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Karthik?

1,495 babies have been named Karthik in the United States since 1977, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Karthik most popular?

Karthik peaked in 2010, when 79 newborns received the name.

Is Karthik a boy or girl name?

Karthik is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Karthik rising or falling?

Karthik is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Will Karthik become more popular?

Karthik is trending downward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 15 boys named Karthik in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Names like Karthik

Names that sound and feel close to Karthik: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Karthik with similar names → More names starting with K →