Karen Boy

Popularity: · Trend: → Stable

Origin(s)

PronunciationKAR-en / /ˈkɛrən/

Hebrew; Scandinavian

Meaning

Hebrew: 'pure'; Scandinavian: 'the one who is beloved'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Karen has roots in Hebrew, where it means 'pure'. It gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries. In Scandinavian cultures, it is often considered a diminutive of Katherine. The name has seen various cultural representations and has been used in literature and media.

Trend Summary

The name Karen saw a peak in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s in the United States.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Karin
  • Kareen

International Variants

  • Karin (Swedish)
  • Caren (English)
  • Karyna (Ukrainian)

Famous people named Karen

Karen Blixen was a Danish author known for her book 'Out of Africa'.

Karen Carpenter was an American singer and drummer, famous as part of the duo The Carpenters.

Karen Gillan is a Scottish actress known for her role as Amy Pond in 'Doctor Who'.

Karen O is an American musician and lead singer of the band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Fictional characters named Karen

Karen Page is a character in the Marvel Comics universe, known for her role in 'Daredevil'.

Karen Walker is a character from the television show 'Will & Grace', known for her humorous personality.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Karen was first seen in the United States in 1935. Karen has ranked as high as #1037 nationally, which occurred in 1964, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Karen has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Karen (2000)

StateBirthsShare
CA 6
100%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
19358
193613
19379
193821
193917
194037
194144
194265
194354
194449
194552
194639
194737
194836
194941
195036
195134
195236
195358
195453
195550
195672
195777
195866
195980
196072
196179
196275
196383
196491
196581
196664
196754
196849
196974
197048
197157
197249
197340
197436
197529
197636
197727
197822
197932
198027
198123
198231
198322
198428
198526
198623
198735
198820
198937
199018
199121
199225
199333
199417
199519
199616
19979
19986
199914
200020
200118
20026
200310
200412
20059
200611
200712
20085
20108
20117
20125
20155
20177
20196
20206
20235