It may derive from Mari words kü (stone) and karman (fortress) or from kugyrak (great).

Attempts have been made to trace it to either Udmurt (kar "town") or Turkic (kukar "burned-away forest").

In the 12th century, it was a capital of the local principality of Chumbylat, a renowned Mari leader and warrior.

[citation needed] Kukarka was occupied in 1594 by Russians during colonization of Mari land.

Town status was granted to it in 1937, at which time its name was changed by the Soviet government into Sovetsk (lit.