Karen
Karen: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkæɹən/ · /ˈkɛɹən/
Meaning and origin of Karen
- A female given name from Danish.
- A transliteration of the Armenian male given name Կարեն (Karen).
Etymology
From Danish Karen, a vernacular form of Catherine that arose in medieval Denmark. The sense "middle-aged woman" comes from the popularity of the name among baby boomers and Gen-Xers. The derogatory usage was popularized via African-American Vernacular English.
How popular is Karen?
Since 1880, 987,989 girls and 2,785 boys in the U.S. have been named Karen (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3 in 1965. Its highest rank for boys was #790 in 1964. In 2025, 175 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Karen
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Danish girl names
Sibling name ideas for Karen
Sister and brother names that share Karen's Danish roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Karen FAQ
What does the name Karen mean?
A female given name from Danish. A transliteration of the Armenian male given name Կարեն (Karen). From Danish Karen, a vernacular form of Catherine that arose in medieval Denmark. The sense "middle-aged woman" comes from the popularity of the name among baby boomers and Gen-Xers. The derogatory usage was popularized via African-American Vernacular English.
What is the origin of the name Karen?
Karen is listed as a name of Danish origin.
How popular is the name Karen?
Since 1880, 987,989 girls and 2,785 boys in the U.S. have been named Karen (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3 in 1965. Its highest rank for boys was #790 in 1964. In 2025, 175 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Karen a boy or girl name?
Karen is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 987,989 girls and 2,785 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.