Karthali

Karthali is a proper noun used in South Asian contexts to refer to a feminine given name as well as toponymic instances in local areas. In contemporary usage it appears primarily among Indian language communities and in the Indian diaspora. Spelling and pronunciation vary across languages and communities.

The etymology is not universally fixed. It is often treated as a feminine form linked to Kartik or Kartika in several linguistic traditions, or as a derivative of Sanskrit roots associated with auspiciousness or harvest. Interpretations differ by language and region.

Geographically, there is no widely documented administrative region named Karthali in major national registries. The term can appear in local place names or as a surname-derived toponym in some communities, but such occurrences are not widely cataloged in global gazetteers.

In culture and media, individuals named Karthali may be mentioned in regional literature or cinema, but there are no globally recognized figures bearing the name.

Related terms include Karthik and Kartik, which are more common masculine names, as well as Mount Karthala, a distinct geographic term unrelated to the given name.