Kartik is a name of Indian origin, derived from the Hindu god Kartikeya, also known as Skanda or Murugan. Kartikeya is considered the god of war and victory in Hinduism, and he is believed to be the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
The name Kartik itself has several meanings depending on the context. In some interpretations, it signifies "the lord of the Krittikas," which are a group of stars known as the Pleiades. In other contexts, Kartik may mean "the first," referring to the god's status as the firstborn son of Shiva and Parvati.
Kartik has a rich history in Indian mythology and culture. According to one popular legend, he was born from the sparks that flew off his parents' third eye when they opened it simultaneously out of anger towards each other. Another story recounts how Kartik fought and defeated the demon Tarakasura with the help of the celestial beings known as the Krittikas.
In India, Kartik is celebrated as a significant deity during festivals like Skanda Shasti and Kartika Purnima. However, these celebrations are not directly related to the name's origin or meaning but rather honor the god associated with the name.
In recent years, Kartik has gained popularity beyond India's borders due to globalization and increased awareness of Indian culture worldwide. Parents from various backgrounds now choose this name for their children inspired by its unique sound, rich history, and divine significance.
Based on the statistics provided, we can observe several trends related to the number of births with the name Kartik in the United States over time.
Starting from 1973 until around the mid-1980s, the number of babies named Kartik remained relatively low, ranging between 5 and 7 births per year. However, beginning in 1989, we see a notable increase in the popularity of this name, with 13 births recorded that year.
The trend of increasing popularity continues through the late 1990s and early 2000s, reaching its peak in 2000 with 21 births. This peak is followed by a slight decline over the next few years but remains consistently higher than the earlier decades, indicating that Kartik had become more widely accepted as a popular name choice.
After 2004, the popularity of the name Kartik starts to fluctuate more significantly. There are periods where the number of births increases (such as from 2005 to 2007, with peaks of 21 and 21 births respectively), followed by decreases or stabilization (for instance, between 2008 and 2014, the numbers range from 10 to 11 births per year).
More recently, since 2015, the popularity of Kartik has been somewhat unpredictable. While there are still several years with double-digit birth counts (such as 2016, 2017, and 2020), there are also years with lower numbers (like 5 births in 2016 or 9 births in 2023).
Overall, while the popularity of the name Kartik has seen some fluctuations over the past few decades, it has managed to maintain a consistent presence among baby names in the United States.