Sukanya is a beautiful and unique name of Indian origin, particularly from the Sanskrit language. Its literal translation is "a girl who is very fortunate," which is derived from two words: "sukh" meaning happiness or prosperity, and "anya" meaning another or different.
The name Sukanya holds significant historical importance in Hindu mythology. It is the name of a maiden who played a crucial role in the story of Chandalika, also known as Sukumari, a famous folk tale popular in Bengal. In this narrative, Sukanya is the daughter of a sage who marries the outcaste Chanda, eventually leading to the transformation of societal norms surrounding caste.
Additionally, Sukanya is also the name of one of the 27 stars or Nakshatras in Hindu astrology. It is associated with the constellation Mula, which corresponds to the star Antares in the constellation Scorpius.
As a given name, Sukanya is often bestowed upon daughters in families practicing Hinduism and other Indian traditions, hoping that she will indeed bring happiness and fortune into their lives. It is also gaining popularity worldwide due to its unique sound and beautiful meaning.
The name Sukanya has seen a varied trend in its usage over the years in the United States. From 1997 to 2007, there were a total of 75 babies born with this name. The year with the highest number of births was 2005, with 21 newborn girls named Sukanya. However, the popularity of the name seems to have decreased in recent years, as shown by the lower birth numbers from 2006 onwards. Despite these fluctuations, Sukanya remains a unique and distinctive name choice for parents looking for something uncommon yet meaningful.