Karma

Meaning of Karma

Rooted in the Sanskrit word karman—literally “act” or “deed” and, by extension, the ethical principle that every action sets in motion a chain of consequences—Karma migrated from South Asian philosophical discourse into the English lexicon during the late nineteenth century and, by mid-twentieth century, began to appear on American birth certificates. The name therefore carries a dual resonance: linguistically, it preserves the crisp, two-syllable clarity favored in modern English nomenclature; conceptually, it evokes a worldview of moral reciprocity that features prominently in Hinduism, Buddhism, and the broader canon of Eastern thought. While never occupying the upper tiers of the Social Security rankings, Karma has maintained a steady presence in the United States for more than a century, its modest yet persistent popularity reflecting a sustained cultural appetite for spiritually inflected, virtue-laden names. As such, for many parents the choice of Karma signals an aspiration toward balance and accountability, embedding a philosophical reminder within the very sound of their daughter’s name.