Karna is an Indian male given name of Sanskrit origin. It means "ear" in Sanskrit, which refers to the belief that the god of the sun, Surya, heard the cries of his son Karna and gave him his divine ear-rings as a blessing.
According to Hindu mythology, Karna was the firstborn son of the Sun God Surya and his wife Chhaya. However, he was abandoned by his mother soon after his birth due to social stigma attached to being born out of wedlock. He was later found and raised by a charioteer named Adhiratha and his wife Radha.
Karna grew up to be a skilled warrior and archer, but was refused entry into the royal court due to his humble beginnings. Despite this, he became a friend and ally of the Pandavas, one of the five heroic brothers in the Indian epic Mahabharata. Karna fought on the side of the Kauravas against the Pandavas in the great war of Kurukshetra, but was ultimately killed by Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers.
The name Karna is also associated with the Hindu festival of Karva Chauth, a fasting ritual observed by married women for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. The story behind this festival involves Karna's wife Vasuki and her devotion to him.
Overall, Karna is a powerful and significant name in Indian culture and mythology, embodying themes of perseverance, courage, and loyalty despite adversity.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Karna experienced varying popularity over time in the United States from 1930 to 1985. The name first appeared in 1930 with 5 births that year. It then saw an increase in popularity between 1937 and 1942, with a peak of 11 births in 1941.
After a decline in the mid-1940s, the name Karna started to gain traction again in the late 1950s. From 1956 onwards, there were consistently more than 8 births per year until it peaked at 30 births in 1970. This period marked a significant increase in popularity for the name Karna.
However, after reaching its peak in 1970, the popularity of the name started to decline steadily. Between 1971 and 1985, there were fewer than 20 births per year on average, with some years recording as few as 5 births (in 1980, 1984, and 1985).
In total, over the 56-year period from 1930 to 1985, there were 523 births recorded in the United States with the name Karna. Despite fluctuations in popularity, these statistics demonstrate that the name Karna has been present and recognized in the U.S. for quite some time.