Karen
How to say it: KAIR-un · /ˈkærən/
Scandinavian short form of Katherine, ultimately from Greek 'Aikaterine', possibly meaning 'pure'.
Karen was the 1,071st most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 175 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1950s, its births are down about 73% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,693 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,071 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 175 |
| Share of births | 1 in 18,944 |
| Peak decade | 1950s |
| Change over 10 years | −73% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,693 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,541 among girls’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Dominant in the 1950s, Karen has receded ever since. Down far below its summit, it is expected to keep fading.
What goes with it
Clear and firm in two syllables, Karen balances soft tones with crisp edges. Linda recalls the same era in feel.
Nicknames
- Kari
Other spellings
Honouring a Karen in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Karen is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish.
In France: #2,541 for girls in 2025.
Famous people named Karen
- Karen Gillan (born 1987)Scottish actress and filmmaker
- Karen Blixen (1885–1962)Danish writer
- Karen Uhlenbeck (born 1942)American mathematician
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Karen is a pejorative meme for an entitled demanding woman
Keep exploring
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