Karen originated as a Danish name, arising from the Greek word Aikaterine, which is believed to mean “pure.” Kaja and Katherine are both related Danish names. In French, the name can also mean “clear,” though it retains the meaning of “pure” across most other backgrounds.

In recent years, the name Karen has been adopted as a meme for entitled white women and has declined in popularity as a result.

The name Karen saw its reign of popularity between 1938 and 1979. It was during these four decades that the name consistently held a spot as one of the top 50 most popular names, remaining in the top 10 between 1951 and 1968.

  • Origin: The origin of the name Karen is Scandinavian.Gender: Karen is usually a girl’s name.Pronunciation: KAH-rehn (Danish), KEHR-en (English), KA-ran (German)

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

In recent years, the name Karen has declined significantly in popularity as a result of being used in a negative way to describe women who are entitled or demanding. It ranked No. 831 in 2020.

While Karen is most often used as a female name, it’s important to remember that gender does not have to be a deciding factor in naming your baby.  

Name Variations

There are several different spelling options for the name Karen:

  • CarenCarynKaranKaronKarynKerinKerryn

Similar Names

Other names that sound like Karen include:

  • KareemKarenaKarimKarmaKieranKoren

Other girl names that start with a ‘K’ include:

  • KaitlynKassidyKateKayleeKendallKennedyKenzieKinsleyKhloeKristinaKylieKyra

Suggested Sibling Names

Names that go well with Karen are:

  • AaronDianeKennethKristyMichaelMichelleNancy

Famous People Named Karen

Because the name Karen peaked in popularity in the mid-sixties, some of the most famous Karen’s were also born during that time:

  • Karen Carpenter, SingerKaren Huger, Reality star from “The Real Housewives of Potomac"Karen Clark-Sheard, Gospel singer

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 

  • Top 1,000 Baby Girl Names in the U.S.
  • 100 Russian Baby Names
  • 50 Dutch Baby Names