Karen
Looking for more names like Karen? Get Name MatchMaker & more Expert name-finding tools!
Origin of the name Karen:
Danish form of Katherine, a cognate of the Greek Aikaterinē, the root of which is katharos (pure, unsullied). Var: Caren, Carin, Karen, Karena, Karrin, Karyn.
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman. Buy the bookDoes Karen sound...
Sibling Names for Karen...
Do you know any real life Karens?
What are their siblings named?
Reader Contributions
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 30s) 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
My sister Karen was born in 1984. She does not like her name at all. Besides her, the only other Karens are all over 40. It's unfortunately one of those names that dates you a bit, and it can be a challenge when you don't fit into the generation people think it belongs to.
I'm a teacher, and one of my sweetest Kindergarteners is named "Karen." It's not a common name anymore, but I hope it's on the upswing.
- Nicknames for Karen: | Edit
Kare-co, Care Bear, Ren, Kare, Kare Bear, Kari, Special K
- 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.
The meaning of the name Karen is purity
- 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
Karen Akers, singer and actress
Karyn Parsons, actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
Karen Gillan, British actress in Doctor Who (nicknamed Kaz)- 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
Karen Brockman -- the youngest child in the British sitcom, outnumbered, played by Ramona Marquez
NameVoyager US Popularity of Karen Over Time
NameMapper Current Popularity of Karen by State
Global Popularity of the Name Karen
- #20 in Iceland
- #130 in Norway
- #183 in United States
Baby Name Wizard Store
Celebrate with personalized baby name products! Custom birth announcements, invitations, bibs, onesies & more.
Start Shopping