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Karan as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Karan

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The baby name Karan is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Hindi/Indian: kuh-RAHN (approx. /kəˈrɑːn/ or /kəˈrən/); Anglophone: KAIR-ən or KAH-rən (approx. /ˈkærən/ or /ˈkɑːrən/).

Karan is English, Hindi, Sanskrit in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: English, Hindi, Sanskrit
Pronunciation: Hindi/Indian: kuh-RAHN (approx. /kəˈrɑːn/ or /kəˈrən/); Anglophone: KAIR-ən or KAH-rən (approx. /ˈkærən/ or /ˈkɑːrən/)

What is the meaning of the name Karan ?

The baby name Karan is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Hindi/Indian: kuh-RAHN (approx. /kəˈrɑːn/ or /kəˈrən/); Anglophone: KAIR-ən or KAH-rən (approx. /ˈkærən/ or /ˈkɑːrən/).

Karan is English, Hindi, Sanskrit in Origin.

Karan is primarily a masculine South Asian given name. In Hindi, Punjabi, and other Indo‑Aryan languages, it connects to two Sanskrit bases: Karṇa, “ear,” borne by the magnanimous warrior of the Mahābhārata, and karaṇa, “instrument/agent; cause,” yielding interpretive meanings such as “doer,” “effective,” or “that which accomplishes.” Because of the epic association, it also connotes generosity, loyalty, and martial valor.

The name appears in medieval retellings of the Mahābhārata and remains common across India among Hindus, Sikhs, and others, with modern visibility reinforced by film and television. Variants and related forms include Karna (classical/epic form), Karanjit and Karanveer (Sikh compounds), and the anglicized Karran; Karana occurs as a learned or South Indian transliteration. In English‑speaking contexts, Karan also serves as a feminine spelling variant of Karen, ultimately from Katherine meaning “pure,” so the name’s gender and meaning differ by culture.

Karan has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Karan

Karan Brar Actor · Born 1999 · United States Karan Brar is an American actor best known for playing Ravi Ross on Disney Channel’s Jessie and its spin-off Bunk’d. He also appeared as Chirag Gupta in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid films. Karan Singh Grover Actor · Born 1982 · India Karan Singh Grover is best known for his popular television roles in Dill Mill Gayye and Qubool Hai. Born on 23 February 1982, he is an Indian model and actor who has also appeared in Hindi films such as Alone and Hate Story 3. Karan Soni Actor · Born 1989 · United States Karan Soni is an American actor best known for playing Dopinder in Deadpool, Deadpool 2, and Deadpool & Wolverine. He’s also known for voicing Pavitr Prabhakar, also called Spider-Man India, in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
Karanvir Bohra Actor · Born 1982 · India Karanvir Bohra is best known as an Indian television actor, and he has also worked in films as a producer and designer. Born Manoj Bohra on 28 August 1982, he later changed his name to Karanveer in 2007 and is especially recognized for shows like Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Dil Se Di Dua... Saubhagyavati Bhava?, and Naagin 2. Karan Ashley Actor · Born 1975 · United States Karan Ashley is an American actress, singer, and talk show host, best known for playing Aisha Campbell, the second Yellow Power Ranger, on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. She was born Karan Ashley Jackson on September 28, 1975. Karan Wahi Actor · Born 1984 · India Karan Wahi is an Indian actor, model, and television host best known for playing Ranveer Sisodia in the hit TV show Remix. He became widely recognized after his lead role in Remix and has since built a successful career in television and hosting.

Celebrity babies named Karan

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Karan Kapoor Shashi Kapoor film producer
Karan Deol Sunny Deol film producer

Karan – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 1982 #1 552
Germany Boys 2025 #1 423
IN 0 #33 38 2,963
DJ Boys 0 #36 1 657
BI Boys 0 #44 1 917
IN Boys 0 #52 7,916 16,750
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
MV Boys 0 #79 1 3,375
CN 0 #85 2 3,857
JM 0 #92 2 3,714
QA 0 #101 6 7,011
TW 0 #102 2 4,523
CY Boys 0 #106 24 3,473
PH 0 #110 1 5,607
OM 0 #114 8 6,215
KW 0 #119 3 5,216
EE Boys 0 #123 3 2,087
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
IQ 0 #130 4 3,533
GR 0 #133 3 3,911
BN Boys 0 #134 6 6,332
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
MU 0 #135 3 3,613
AE 0 #151 27 10,220
LT Boys 0 #151 1 2,166
BW Boys 0 #153 2 4,685
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
RS Boys 0 #154 1 2,277
CR 0 #165 1 5,526
QA Boys 0 #166 925 18,093
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
Sweden Boys 2022 #181 2 1,509
LU Boys 0 #219 2 4,970
MO Boys 0 #229 6 5,842
BG Girls 0 #231 1 3,559
MU Boys 0 #233 130 8,477
BD 0 #238 4 5,992
GR Boys 0 #245 23 6,912
GR Girls 0 #248 2 6,293
AO Boys 0 #249 1 5,568
JP Girls 0 #250 2 6,592
QA Girls 0 #255 62 15,378
SG 0 #255 15 11,010
AF Boys 0 #271 4 3,535
JM Girls 0 #277 2 7,507
SA 0 #284 12 10,560
JM Boys 0 #288 6 6,876
TW Girls 0 #288 2 8,139
KZ Boys 0 #294 3 6,578
JP Boys 0 #295 9 7,909
Canada Boys 2024 #299 8 2,588
CN Boys 0 #299 21 9,639
CZ Boys 0 #303 3 6,530
MY 0 #320 11 12,352
DK Boys 0 #324 9 7,401
PT Boys 0 #331 37 7,951
AE Boys 0 #333 1,377 22,615
PL Boys 0 #335 6 6,459
GH Girls 0 #337 1 6,973
JO Girls 0 #338 2 7,570
KW Boys 0 #340 524 18,755
CN Girls 0 #352 8 8,829
HK 0 #352 6 8,483
SD Girls 0 #357 2 7,678
JO Boys 0 #360 18 7,057
GH Boys 0 #361 1 8,138
BH 0 #363 193 17,937
YE 0 #363 19 8,639
PH Boys 0 #367 17 11,440
France Boys 2021 #370 18 2,865
Finland Boys 0 #372 56 2,041
NL 0 #376 16 2,481
OM Girls 0 #382 15 15,987
IN Girls 0 #396 248 13,121
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
Austria Boys 0 #427 16 2,180
PH Girls 0 #427 3 13,098
SD Boys 0 #427 19 10,523
OM Boys 0 #445 538 17,948
SG Boys 0 #455 250 17,960
ZA 0 #471 4 14,421
HK Boys 0 #472 56 12,905
CR Boys 0 #475 13 10,188
SA Boys 0 #475 2,328 28,008
KW Girls 0 #484 32 19,177
AE Girls 0 #492 62 20,968
IQ Girls 0 #494 11 11,303
PA Boys 0 #504 2 9,305
RU Boys 0 #521 6 12,621
RU Girls 0 #523 1 11,913
IR Boys 0 #524 29 10,162
PS Girls 0 #546 2 10,981
BD Boys 0 #554 23 10,045
LY 0 #554 6 12,703
PS Boys 0 #554 8 10,655
CM Boys 0 #573 3 12,054
SG Girls 0 #577 10 18,916
IQ Boys 0 #585 83 13,071
HK Girls 0 #603 13 16,104
IL Boys 0 #620 6 10,983
IL Girls 0 #644 2 11,648
LB 0 #646 13 13,263
Finland Boys 2026 #669 14 3,552
CL Boys 0 #698 3 13,390
IT 0 #699 16 4,183
MY Boys 0 #721 418 25,439
SY 0 #759 9 11,684
SA Girls 0 #767 169 25,931
BR Boys 0 #782 4 12,213
NL Boys 0 #814 138 5,873
TN 0 #820 10 13,765
NG Girls 0 #823 4 15,093
EG Boys 0 #859 28 15,035
Spain Boys 0 #868 63 5,610
United States Boys 2024 #877 16 7,044
United States Girls 2004 #908 9 9,828
Germany Boys 0 #913 40 5,697
PE Boys 0 #926 1 14,506
NG Boys 0 #941 11 16,906
EG Girls 0 #946 14 14,742
MY Girls 0 #965 30 24,821
CO Boys 0 #979 3 15,656
MX Boys 0 #1,033 1 16,355
MA 0 #1,037 92 20,986
IT Boys 0 #1,070 410 10,046
TR 0 #1,100 112 19,440
DZ 0 #1,120 57 20,130
ZA Girls 0 #1,131 11 25,928
ZA Boys 0 #1,141 38 25,619
CO Girls 0 #1,149 4 16,140
MX Girls 0 #1,266 2 17,781
IT Girls 0 #1,431 16 9,415

Karan is popular in 76 countries — most recent births per country:

Canada
United States
France
Ireland
Germany

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People also ask about Karan

Karan is predominantly a boy's name.
Karan is a 2 syllable name, pronounced Hindi/Indian: kuh-RAHN (approx. /kəˈrɑːn/ or /kəˈrən/); Anglophone: KAIR-ən or KAH-rən (approx. /ˈkærən/ or /ˈkɑːrən/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Karna, Kaaran and Karon.
Across languages, Karan has these equivalents: Karna (Sanskrit cognate), Karen (Western feminine equivalent).
Yes, very popular — Karan ranked #1 in Ireland in 1982, and appears in official birth registries across 9 countries.
Karan ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 1982).
Karan's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #320 in 2014 to #299 in 2024 in Canada.
Yes — 7 notable people named Karan are in our database, including Karan Brar (Actor), Karan Singh Grover (Actor), Karan Soni (Actor).
Yes — at least 2 celebrity couples have chosen Karan for their child, including Shashi Kapoor.