The Baby Name Wizard

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Contribute to, or edit, this collection of community wisdom on the name Karen!

Comments and insights on the name Karen: | Edit

Growing up (I am now in my late 20s) there was only one other Karen in my classes and the name is less popular now. I like my name and enjoy that it is not too different or too common. There are several spellings but this seems to be the most popular spelling

There is an ethnic group in Thailand and Burma named the "Karen". The "Karen" language is also commonly spoken among small villages in Thailand.

Personal experiences with the name Karen: | Edit

When I was six years old (back in 1988) I thought this was such a great name, I wanted to name my future daughter Karen. I think it was because of the Baby-Sitters Little Sister books and a cool older girl at my school named Karen. I named one of my teddy bears Karen and even though I wouldn't use the name for a daughter today, I still like it.

Nicknames for Karen: | Edit

Kare-co, Care Bear, Ren, Kare

Meanings and history of the name Karen: | Edit

Karen is the Danish form of the name Katherine.

It is also the name of an ethnic group in Burma.

Famous real-life people named Karen: | Edit

Karen Carpenter, one half of the singing duo The Carpenters
Karen Allen (actress) most known for playing Marion Ravenwood in two Indian Jones films "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
Karen Blixen was the birth name of author Isak Dinesen ("Out of Africa")
Karen Killilea, whose story helped publicize and improve care for children with cerebral palsy.
Karen Black, actress
Karen Kwan, figure skater
Caryn Johnson is the birth name of Whoopi Goldberg, actress
Karyn Parsons, actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)

Karen in song, story & screen: | Edit

Karen Koltrane -- Sonic Youth
Karen Revisited -- Sonic Youth
Karen By Night -- Jill Sobule
Karen -- Matthew Sweet
Karen Brewer from the Baby-Sitters Little Sister books