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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dharma

Dharma

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How to Pronounce Dharma

Pronounced DAR-muh /ˈdɑr.mə/Medium

Meaning: Dharma is the Sanskrit dharma, a central concept in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain thought meaning the moral law, duty, or righteous path that upholds the order of the universe. As a Western given name it borrows that word directly, carrying its weight of meaning.Medium

In 30 seconds: Dharma is the Sanskrit word for the righteous path and cosmic order (said 'DAR-muh'). A rare word-name lifted briefly by a hit sitcom.
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Origin MediumSanskrit
MeaningDharma is the Sanskrit dharma, a central concept in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain thought meaning the moral law, duty, or righteous path that upholds the order of the universe. As a Western given name it borrows that word directly, carrying its weight of meaning.
U.S. rank (2023)#12463 ↗ Rising
2023 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1998
Total births (all-time)≈ 618
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Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199819692023

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dharma takes the Sanskrit word for the moral law and duty that sustains the cosmos, a foundational idea across Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions. As an American given name it was scarcely used until the sitcom Dharma & Greg lifted it to a small peak around 1998.

A Dharma from that peak is now in her late twenties. The name pairs a genuine spiritual depth with a soft, wearable sound, and fits the modern taste for meaning-rich word-names, though it remains uncommon and closely tied to its sitcom moment.

Did you know? The 1997–2002 sitcom 'Dharma & Greg' sent this contemplative word-name to its American high around 1998, introducing many viewers to a term drawn from Hindu and Buddhist philosophy.
Overall data confidence 60%
References — Dharma — Sanskrit 'dharma' (cosmic law/duty); sitcom Dharma & Greg

Variations

Darma

Nicknames

Dar

Famous Bearers

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If you like Dharma…

Karma— a like Sanskrit spiritual word-name
Dara— a like short soft-sounding girl's name
Thea— a like short meaning-rich word-name
Carma— a fellow Sanskrit choice
Rama— shares the -ma ending

Explore names like Dharma

By thememodernword-namesanskritspiritual

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dharma mean?

Dharma is the Sanskrit word for cosmic law, duty and the righteous path, central to Hindu and Buddhist thought.

How do you pronounce Dharma?

It's said DAR-muh /ˈdɑr.mə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Dharma a boy or girl name?

Dharma is used as a girl's name in the West.

How popular is Dharma?

Dharma is a rare word-name whose main bump followed the late-nineteen-nineties sitcom 'Dharma & Greg.'

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