Karena Girl

Popularity: #933 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: kuh-REE-nuh /kəˈriːnə/

Origin: Latin; Greek

Meaning: Latin: pure; Greek: beloved

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Karena is believed to derive from the Greek name "Katerina," which itself is a variant of "Aikaterine." The etymology of Aikaterine is often linked to the Greek word "katharos," meaning "pure." This connection suggests that the name has connotations of purity and clarity. The name Katerina made its way into Latin as "Caterina," and subsequently into various languages, including Old French, before being adopted into English as Catherine.

The variant Karena likely emerged as a modern adaptation or derivative of these names, reflecting the linguistic evolution and cultural exchanges over centuries. Historically, the name Catherine has been borne by numerous notable figures, including saints and queens.

One of the most prominent is Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a Christian martyr from the 4th century, who became a symbol of wisdom and learning. Her feast day is celebrated on November 25, and she has been venerated in various Christian traditions.

The name gained further prominence through royal figures, such as Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII of England in the 16th century, and Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia in the 18th century, who played a significant role in expanding the Russian Empire and promoting the arts and education. Culturally, the name Karena, as a derivative of Catherine, carries with it the weight of these historical associations.

The themes of purity, strength, and wisdom resonate through its lineage, contributing to its enduring appeal. Additionally, diminutive forms such as Kate and Kitty have emerged from the name Catherine, further enriching its cultural tapestry.

The name's historical significance and the legacy of its bearers have helped maintain its relevance across generations, reflecting the broader societal values of the times.

Famous people named Karena

In this section, you will find notable people named Karena. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Karena who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Karena who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Karena Evans is a director best known for her work on music videos for Drake and SZA.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Karena, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

KatherineKarinaKaraKeiraKassandra

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Karena. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

KatrinaKerenKiraCarmenSelenaMarinaSerenaElena

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Karena was first seen in the United States in 1946.

Karena has ranked as high as #1757 nationally, which occurred in 1974, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Karena has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Karena is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Karena was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Karena.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 15 15
2024 12 12
2023 7 7
2022 7 7
2021 10 10
2020 17 17
2019 20 20
2018 19 19
2017 22 22
2016 26 26
2015 21 21
2014 15 15
2013 25 25
2012 26 26
2011 26 26
2010 28 28
2009 41 41
2008 33 33
2007 36 36
2006 40 40
2005 40 40
2004 58 58
2003 50 50
2002 49 49
2001 79 79
2000 82 82
1999 58 58
1998 79 79
1997 74 74
1996 86 86
1995 72 72
1994 89 89
1993 95 95
1992 81 81
1991 66 66
1990 68 68
1989 78 78
1988 67 67
1987 69 69
1986 67 67
1985 62 62
1984 49 49
1983 61 61
1982 60 60
1981 68 68
1980 70 70
1979 78 78
1978 86 86
1977 96 96
1976 92 92
1975 98 98
1974 114 114
1973 100 100
1972 97 97
1971 100 100
1970 101 101
1969 75 75
1968 49 49
1967 34 34
1966 27 27
1965 20 20
1964 13 13
1963 11 11
1962 16 16
1961 16 16
1959 9 9
1958 8 8
1957 6 6
1955 9 9
1953 6 6
1951 5 5
1950 5 5
1948 8 8
1946 6 6

Top States for Karena (2019)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 5
100%