Meaning and Etymology
Karthik is reported to mean “one who is brave” or “a person who is strong”[3], and it is also identified as a name of the Hindu war‑god Kartikeya, the son of Shiva and Parvati[5]. The name is a southern Indian form of the Sanskrit name Kartik, which itself derives from the month Kārtik[1].
Origin and Language Usage
The etymological root of Karthik is Sanskrit[5]. Though Sanskrit is the source language, the name is widely used in South Indian linguistic communities, especially Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam[1]. In these regions it appears in native scripts such as கார்த்திக் (Tamil), కార్తీక్ (Telugu) and കാർത്തിക് (Malayalam).
Pronunciation
The name is commonly pronounced as “KAR‑tik” (stress on the first syllable) in English language contexts[5].
Spellings and Variants
- Kartik – a common alternate spelling.
- Karthikeyan – a longer form from which Karthik is often shortened[6].
- Kartikeya – the mythological deity associated with the name[5].
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Frequently asked questions
What does the name Karthik mean?
Karthik is interpreted as “one who is brave” or “a person who is strong,” and it also refers to the war‑god Kartikeya.[3][5]
Is Karthik a male or female name?
Karthik is documented as a masculine (boy) name.[1]
How is Karthik pronounced?
It is pronounced “KAR‑tik,” with stress on the first syllable.[5]
Related terms
References
Follow the sources to explore the evidence and context behind this article.
- Meaning, origin and history of the name Karthik - Behind the Name; https://www.behindthename.com/name/karthik
- Karthik or Kartik? 2 ways to spell Karthik | NamePlay.org; https://nameplay.org/ways-to-spell-Karthik
- Karthik : Meaning and Origin of First Name | Search Family History on Ancestry®.com; https://www.ancestry.com/first-name-meaning/karthik
- Related Name Family Tree for the name Karthik - Behind the Name; https://www.behindthename.com/name/karthik/tree
- How to Pronounce Karthik + Meaning & Origin | More4Kids; https://www.more4kids.info/baby-names/karthik/
- Karthik: meaning, origin, and popularity of the name; https://nametree.me/name/karthik/