Karthikeya
/K-AE-R-TH-IH-K-EY-Y-AE/
The youthful warrior god Karthikeya, also called Murugan and Skanda, son of Shiva and Parvati and brother of Ganesha, who rides a peacock and commands the armies of the gods. A South Indian masculine name, strong in Telugu and Tamil devotion, invoking valor, youth and martial energy.
See Karthikeya scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Karthikeya:
Yes — Karthikeya is a Hindu boy name of Telugu origin, meaning “The youthful warrior god Karthikeya, also called Murugan and Skanda, son of Shiva and Parvati and brother of Ganesha, who rides a peacock and commands the armies of the gods. A South Indian masculine name, strong in Telugu and Tamil devotion, invoking valor, youth and martial energy.”.
How well does Karthikeya fit your family?
This page tells you what Karthikeya means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock Karthikeya's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Karthikeya is a boy's name of Telugu origin, traditionally used in Hindu families. The name means "The youthful warrior god Karthikeya, also called Murugan and Skanda, son of Shiva and Parvati and brother of Ganesha, who rides a peacock and commands the armies of the gods. A South Indian masculine name, strong in Telugu and Tamil devotion, invoking valor, youth and martial energy." and belongs to the Courage cluster — names for children who will grow into bold, fearless hearts.
Common among Indian, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayali, Singaporean families, Karthikeya carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What's Karthikeya's birth star?
In Vedic tradition, a baby's name is matched to their nakshatra (birth star) and rashi (moon sign) — usually through its first syllable. Karthikeya opens with “Ka.” But whether that's auspicious depends on your baby's exact date, time, and place of birth.
NameRoot works it out for you. Enter your baby's birth details and see exactly which nakshatra and rashi Karthikeya aligns with — and how strongly it scores.
See Karthikeya's birth-star reading →What does Karthikeya's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Karthikeya resonates in either tradition.
Karthikeya's destiny number is 1 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Karthikeya's full reading →
Does Karthikeya go with your family's names?
Karthikeya breaks into 9 sounds: /K-AE-R-TH-IH-K-EY-Y-AE/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Karthikeya sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Karthikeya beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Karthikeya — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Karthikeya
If Karthikeya resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Hindu boy names, common in Indian families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Hindu boy names from the Courage cluster
Names that sound similar
Hindu boy names that open with the same syllables as Karthikeya
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Karthikeya — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Karthikeya
What does the name Karthikeya mean?
Karthikeya means "The youthful warrior god Karthikeya, also called Murugan and Skanda, son of Shiva and Parvati and brother of Ganesha, who rides a peacock and commands the armies of the gods. A South Indian masculine name, strong in Telugu and Tamil devotion, invoking valor, youth and martial energy.." It is a boy name of Telugu origin, traditionally used in Hindu families.
Is Karthikeya a boy or girl name?
Karthikeya is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Karthikeya?
Karthikeya is of Telugu origin, used in Hindu tradition, commonly among Indian, Tamil, Telugu families.
Is Karthikeya a Hindu name?
Yes. Karthikeya is a boy name traditionally used in Hindu families, of Telugu origin.
What does Karthikeya mean in Telugu?
Karthikeya originates from Telugu, where it means "The youthful warrior god Karthikeya, also called Murugan and Skanda, son of Shiva and Parvati and brother of Ganesha, who rides a peacock and commands the armies of the gods. A South Indian masculine name, strong in Telugu and Tamil devotion, invoking valor, youth and martial energy.."
What are common nicknames for Karthikeya?
Common short forms of Karthikeya include Kari, Kart.
What is the numerology of Karthikeya?
Karthikeya has a Pythagorean destiny number of 1 — leadership and pioneering spirit.
See how Karthikeya scores for your family
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