Girl · #12,180 in 2026

Dharma

Name: Popularity of the name Dharma in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Dharma, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Dharma is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term dharma does not have a single, clear translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit dhr-, meaning to hold or to support, thus referring to the law that sustains things—from one's life to society, and to the Universe at large.

Current Rank

#12,180

Peak Rank

#2,124 (1998)

Total Babies

618

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1969

First Year

2023

Last Year

1998

Peak Year

#2124

Peak Rank

618

Total Count

Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Dharma

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology

The Prakrit word " dhaṃ-ma "/ 𑀥𑀁𑀫 ( Sanskrit : Dharma धर्म ) in the Brahmi script , as inscribed by Emperor Ashoka in his Edicts of Ashoka (3rd century BCE) The word dharma ( / ˈ d ɑːr m ə / ) has roots in the Sanskrit dhr- , which means to hold or to support , and is related to Latin firmus (firm, stable). From this, it takes the meaning of "what is established or firm", and hence "law". It is derived from an older Vedic Sanskrit n -stem dharman- , with a literal meaning of "bearer, supporter", in a religious sense conceived as an aspect of Rta . In the Rigveda , the word appears as an n -

Origin & history

According to Pandurang Vaman Kane , author of the book History of Dharmaśāstra , the word dharma appears at least fifty-six times in the hymns of the Rigveda , as an adjective or noun. According to Paul Horsch, the word dharma has its origin in Vedic Hinduism. The hymns of the Rigveda claim Brahman created the universe from chaos, they hold (dhar-) the earth and sun and stars apart, they support (dhar-) the sky away and distinct from earth, and they stabilise (dhar-) the quaking mountains and plains. The Deities , mainly Indra , then deliver and hold order from disorder, harmony from chaos, st

The Story of Dharma

Dharma first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1969, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1998, when 68 Dharmas were born — ranking #2,124 that year. As of 2026, Dharma ranks #12,180 for baby girls with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 618 Dharmas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Dharma

Phonetically similar names — useful when Dharma is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Darma
Dorma
Dharna
Tarma
Dormie
Dormy
Daria
Dama
Derma
Darm
Darya
Darra

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dharma

What does the name Dharma mean?

How popular is Dharma in 2026?

In 2026, Dharma ranks #12,180 among girls' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.

When was Dharma most popular?

Dharma reached its peak popularity in 1998, ranking #2,124 that year with 68 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Dharma most popular?

Dharma has historically been most popular in Indiana, Florida, Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Dharma.

Is Dharma a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Dharma is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.

What names go well with Dharma?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Dharma include Kalen, Korinne, Latrese. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Dharma

Dharma is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1969 and has accumulated 618 births in the dataset. Dharma's peak popularity came in 1998 when it ranked #2,124. Use the chart and map above to compare Dharma's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.