Karen
Karen is a girl's name of Dutch origin.
Meaning
Pure.
Origin and history
Karen is a Danish form of Katherine, derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, which is traditionally associated with purity. It was extraordinarily popular in the United States during the mid-20th century, becoming one of the top female names of that era. In recent years, its usage for newborns has declined significantly, though it remains a familiar classic.
Popularity in the United States
987,989 babies in the United States have been named Karen since 1880. It ranks #15 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1022.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9.3 %)
- NY (9 %)
- PA (6.7 %)
- IL (6.2 %)
- OH (6.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 49 |
| 1890-1900 | 79 |
| 1900-1910 | 98 |
| 1910-1920 | 304 |
| 1920-1930 | 564 |
| 1930-1940 | 16,692 |
| 1940-1950 | 167,700 |
| 1950-1960 | 332,531 |
| 1960-1970 | 286,053 |
| 1970-1980 | 95,173 |
| 1980-1990 | 34,914 |
| 1990-2000 | 24,516 |
| 2000-2010 | 20,609 |
| 2010-2019 | 7,360 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,347 |
Famous people named Karen
- Karen Carpenter: Singer, Drummer
- Karen Gillan: Actress, Filmmaker
- Karen Allen: Actress
Nicknames
Kare, Ren
Fun facts
- Karen was among the top 10 most popular girls' names in the United States from 1938 to 1968.
- It originated as a Scandinavian short form of Katherine, which traces back to ancient Greek roots.