Kartikeya
Kartikeya (कार्त्तिकेय) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy-name meaning “Son of the Krittikas; the warrior god, brother of Ganesha”. Find pronunciation, origin, deity association, popularity and similar Hindu baby names.
Kartikeya (कार्त्तिकेय) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy-name meaning “Son of the Krittikas; the warrior god, brother of Ganesha”. Find pronunciation, origin, deity association, popularity and similar Hindu baby names.
Kartikeya (कार्त्तिकेय, IAST: kārttikeya) is a Sanskrit-origin Hindu boy-name meaning “Son of the Krittikas; the warrior god, brother of Ganesha”. The six-faced god of war and victory; born to Shiva and Parvati and fostered by the six Krittika stars of the Pleiades.
Meaning, etymology & significance
Kartikeya (कार्त्तिकेय) is one of the principal names of Skanda — the six-faced warrior son of Shiva and Parvati, brother of Ganesha, and commander-in-chief of the army of the devas. The name means “son of the Krittikas” — for he was nursed by the six Krittika stars (the Pleiades), each of whom held one of his six heads.
In South India he is the principal deity of Tamil Shaivism and is worshipped as Murugan in the six great Padai Veedu temples — Palani, Tiruchendur, Swamimalai, Tiruparankunram, Pazhamudircholai and Tiruttani. In North India the same deity is Kartikeya, less daily-worshipped but central to many Mahabharata stories.
Skanda’s vehicle is the peacock; his weapon is the vēl — a divine spear given by Parvati. Boys named Kartikeya are traditionally said to grow strong in body and quick in courage.
The shorter Karthik (कार्तिक) is more common in everyday use and exists as a separate Post on this site. Kartikeya is the fuller, more ceremonial form.
Astrology — nakshatra & rashi
By the standard Vedic correspondence between the first syllable of a name and the lunar mansion (nakshatra), Kartikeya aligns with the Mrigashira nakshatra, under the Mithuna rashi (Moon sign).
Similar names
Hindu names with a similar feel or meaning include: Karthik, Skanda, Murugan. Each is a distinct choice with its own etymology — explore them on their own pages for fuller context.