Boy · #12,230 in 2026

Kharon

In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon is the ferryman of the Greek underworld. He transports the souls of those who have been given funeral rites across the river that borders the underworld. Archaeology confirms that, in some burials, low-value coins known generically as Charon's obols were placed in, on, or near the mouth of the deceased, or next to the cremation urn containing the ashes.

Current Rank
#12,230
Peak Rank
#6,035 (2010)
Total Babies
236
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1992
First Year
2023
Last Year
2010
Peak Year
#6035
Peak Rank
236
Total Count
29
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Kharon

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

In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon is the ferryman of the Greek underworld. He transports the souls of those who have been given funeral rites across the river that borders the underworld. Archaeology confirms that, in some burials, low-value coins known generically as Charon's obols were placed in, on, or near the mouth of the deceased, or next to the cremation urn containing the ashes.

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

Etymology
The name Charon is unexplained except via folk etymology which takes it as a proper noun from χάρων ( charon ), a poetic form of χαρωπός ( charopós ) 'of keen gaze', referring either to fierce, flashing, or feverish eyes, or to eyes of a bluish-grey color. The word may be a euphemism for death. Flashing eyes may indicate the anger or irascibility of Charon as he is often characterized in literature, but the etymology is not certain. The ancient historian Diodorus Siculus thought that the ferryman and his name had been imported from Egypt . Charon is first attested in the now fragmentary Greek

The Story of Kharon

Kharon first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1992, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2010, when 14 Kharons were born — ranking #6,035 that year. As of 2026, Kharon ranks #12,230 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 236 Kharons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Names that sound like Kharon

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

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kharon

What does the name Kharon mean?
In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon is the ferryman of the Greek underworld. He transports the souls of those who have been given funeral rites across the river that borders the underworld. Archaeology confirms that, in some burials, low-value coins known generically as Charon's obols were placed in, on, or near the mouth of the deceased, or next to the cremation urn containing the ashes.
How popular is Kharon in 2026?
In 2026, Kharon ranks #12,230 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Kharon most popular?
Kharon reached its peak popularity in 2010, ranking #6,035 that year with 14 babies given the name.
Is Kharon a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Kharon is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Kharon?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Kharon include Ezel, Tank, Danil. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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Earon
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About the name Kharon

Kharon is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1992 and has accumulated 236 births in the dataset. Kharon's peak popularity came in 2010 when it ranked #6,035. Use the chart and map above to compare Kharon'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.