Girl
Scandinavian / Greek
2 syllables
Karen
KAIR-en
/ˈkɛər.ən/
"Pure" — a sleek Scandinavian classic that defined a generation with quiet confidence
Karen is the Scandinavian short form of Katarina, which derives from the Greek Aikaterine meaning pure. It arrived in the United States through Scandinavian immigration and surged to extraordinary popularity in the mid-20th century. Karen was a top-3 name in the US through much of the 1950s and 1960s. In recent years the name has attracted unwanted cultural baggage from internet memes, but it remains a dignified name with a long history.
Quick Facts
Letters5
SyllablesKa · ren
GenderGirl
OriginScandinavian / Greek
Root WordKatarina / Aikaterine
MeaningPure
PopularityFamiliar
Peak Year1965
Trend
→ Stable
Name DayApril 29
Nicknames
KareKari
About the Name Karen
Karen means pure, as a Scandinavian short form of Katarina, which comes from the Greek Aikaterine. It shares its meaning with Katherine, Kate, and Caitlin.
Yes. Karen is the Danish and Norwegian form of Katherine. It was brought to the US by Scandinavian immigrants in the early 20th century.
Karen was one of the most popular girl names in the US through the 1950s and 1960s, frequently ranking in the top 3.
Yes. New parents have largely avoided Karen since the 2010s meme took hold. However, the name has a long, dignified history quite separate from its recent internet associations.
Karen Carpenter, one of history's most beloved singers, and Karen Blixen, the celebrated author of Out of Africa, are among the most distinguished bearers of the name.
Karen Ann, Karen Marie, and Karen Elaine are classic mid-century combinations that suit the name's era perfectly.
Personality of Karen
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Karen
Creativity
64%
Elegance
62%
Independence
78%
Intelligence
76%
Strength
74%
Warmth
74%
Famous People Named Karen
K
Karen Carpenter
American singer with The Carpenters, regarded as one of the greatest voices in pop music history
K
Karen Blixen
Danish author who wrote Out of Africa under the pen name Isak Dinesen
K
Karen Armstrong
British author and scholar of comparative religion, known for A History of God
Middle Names for Karen
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Karen
Karen Ann
Karen Marie
Karen Lynn
Karen Sue
Karen Lee
Karen Renee
Karen Jean
Karen Jo
Karen Elaine
Karen Nicole
Names Similar to Karen
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Karen
1900s
Scandinavian immigrants bring Karen to America as a pet form of Katarina
1955
Karen ranks in the top 3 US girl names, at the height of its immense popularity
1965
Karen reaches its absolute peak and begins a long but gradual decline
2010s
Internet meme culture attaches a negative stereotype to the name, complicating its legacy
Numerology & Symbolism of Karen
4
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
6
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Virgo
6
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Teal
💎
Lucky Stone
Emerald
🌸
Lucky Flower
Lily of the Valley
Karen Around the World
How Karen is written in different languages and scripts
كارين
Arabic
カレン
Japanese
Карен
Russian
카렌
Korean
卡伦
Chinese
Κάρεν
Greek
कैरेन
Hindi
קרן
Hebrew
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