Karma

Karma comes from a Sanskrit word meaning action or deed. In Hindu and Buddhist traditions it is associated with the consequences of actions, though the concept is understood differently across traditions. That background is more precise than translating the word simply as luck or assuming it means that everything is predetermined.

The word has also entered everyday English, where it often refers loosely to actions bringing consequences. As a personal name it can express a family’s interest in responsibility, spirituality, or cause and effect. The Sanskrit origin and the modern English use are connected, but a casual phrase about good karma does not capture the whole religious concept.