The nameKaren
Karen is a Danish form of Katherine. It was one of the great American names of the 1950s and 1960s.
- Girl's name
- Greek
- Feast day
Meaning
Karen comes from Katherine, from the Greek, often linked to katharos, "pure".
Origin
Greek, through Danish.
History
Karen was in the American top 10 from 1951 to 1968, reaching 3rd place in 1965.
Did you know?
- Karen Blixen told of her years in Kenya in Out of Africa (1937), which became an Oscar winning film in 1985.
Famous people named Karen
- Karen Blixen, writer
- Karen Carpenter, singer
- Karen Gillan, actress
Popularity of the name Karen
Karen in the United States
Karen was most popular in the United States in the 1950s, with 333,095 births over the decade, 34% of all recorded babies named Karen. Its rise began around 1938, and it peaked in 1957. Half of all babies named Karen in the United States were born before 1959, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 236 births a year on average, against 545 in the five years before.
Karen in the United Kingdom
Karen was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 530 births over the decade, 50% of all recorded babies named Karen. Half of all babies named Karen in the United Kingdom were born before 2004.
Karen in Ireland
Karen in France
Karen in Belgium
Karen in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Karen
Names from the same generation as Karen, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Karen? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Karen with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Karen side by side with the name of your choice.
Karen in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Karen mean?
Karen comes from Katherine, from the Greek, often linked to katharos, "pure".
What is the origin of the name Karen?
Greek, through Danish.
Is Karen a girl's or a boy's name?
Karen is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Karen?
In 2024, Karen was the 1260th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 184 births.
What are the variants of the name Karen?
Variants and related names of Karen include Catherine, Karyn, Katarina and Katherine.
What are good sibling names for Karen?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Denise, Sandra, Cindy and Cynthia for a sister, Steve, Brendan, Gary and Gregory for a brother.
Who are famous people named Karen?
Karen Blixen, writer; Karen Carpenter, singer; Karen Gillan, actress.