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Karen as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Karen

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The baby name Karen is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkærən/ (common) — respelling: "KAR-en" (first vowel like 'cat'); also /ˈkeərən/ in some accents ("KAIR-en").

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Pronunciation: /ˈkærən/ (common) — respelling: "KAR-en" (first vowel like 'cat'); also /ˈkeərən/ in some accents ("KAIR-en")

What is the meaning of the name Karen ?

The baby name Karen is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈkærən/ (common) — respelling: "KAR-en" (first vowel like 'cat'); also /ˈkeərən/ in some accents ("KAIR-en").

Karen is in Origin.

Karen is the Danish and Norwegian form of Katherine, ultimately from Greek Aikaterine. Through Latin Catharina and the folk link to Greek katharos “pure,” it came to mean “pure” in Christian Europe, strengthened by the cult of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Karen traveled into English via Scandinavian and Dutch usage and became a Top 10 choice in the United States in the 1950s–60s before falling sharply in recent decades.

Variants and related forms include Karin, Carin, Caren, Karyn, Karena, Karenna, Karine, and Carine; diminutives sometimes appear as Kare or Kaja regionally. Cross‑cultural notes: in Armenian, Karen is a traditional male name from Parthian Kārēn (House of Karen), etymologically separate from Katherine; in Japanese, Karen can be written with kanji such as 可憐 “pretty” or 華蓮 “splendid lotus,” giving different meanings. The name remains steady in Scandinavia and the Netherlands.

Karen has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Karen

Karen Gillan Actor · Born 1987 · United Kingdom Karen Gillan is a Scottish actress and filmmaker best known for playing Amy Pond in Doctor Who. She also starred as Nebula in the Guardians of the Galaxy films and appeared in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Karen Black Actor · Born 1939 · United States Karen Black was an American actress best known for her standout work in 1970s films, especially Five Easy Pieces, Nashville, and Easy Rider. She also worked as a screenwriter, singer, and songwriter, and became known for playing eccentric, offbeat characters during the New Hollywood era. MØ Musician · Born 1988 · Kingdom of Denmark MØ, whose real name is Karen Marie Aagaard Ørsted Andersen, is a musician from Denmark known for her unique blend of electronic and pop music. She gained international fame with her hit song 'Lean On' in collaboration with Major Lazer and DJ Snake. Her debut album 'No Mythologies to Follow' also includes popular tracks like 'Pilgrim' and 'Don't Wanna Dance'.
Karen Fukuhara Actor · Born 1992 · United States Karen Fukuhara is an American actress best known for playing Katana in Suicide Squad and Kimiko in The Boys. She has also voiced Kipo in Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, Glimmer in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, and Haru in Pokémon Concierge. Karen McDougal Actor · Born 1971 · United States Karen McDougal is an American model and actress best known for being Playboy's Playmate of the Month in December 1997 and Playmate of the Year in 1998. She later drew wide public attention over reports of an alleged affair with Donald Trump before he became president. Karen Grassle Actor · Born 1942 · United States Karen Grassle is best known for playing Caroline Ingalls on the NBC drama series Little House on the Prairie. She is an American actress born on February 25, 1942.

Karen – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2019 #1 — 902
Ireland Boys 1986 #1 — 332
HN Girls 0 #3 47 884
HK 0 #5 889 8,483
PH 0 #8 111 5,607
CR Girls 0 #9 3,596 11,342
JM Girls 0 #11 689 7,507
SV Girls 0 #11 8 458
CR 0 #13 242 5,526
KR Girls 0 #15 1 572
TW 0 #15 95 4,523
MO 0 #17 36 2,706
HN 0 #18 5 704
BW 0 #19 1 960
CO Girls 0 #20 44,396 16,140
JM 0 #20 72 3,714
SG Girls 0 #20 2,648 18,916
SG 0 #20 425 11,010
GT Girls 0 #22 2,063 7,500
Iceland 0 #22 14 71
PH Girls 0 #23 857 13,098
Iceland Girls 0 #24 50 132
PA Girls 0 #25 1,578 9,861
BN 0 #27 6 2,297
EC Girls 0 #27 472 3,650
HK Girls 0 #27 3,766 16,104
MX 0 #27 1,400 8,339
Iceland Girls 2023 #28 822 60
MT 0 #28 16 1,767
SV Boys 0 #28 1 352
MX Girls 0 #29 24,059 17,781
MT Girls 0 #30 180 3,773
NA 0 #31 3 2,537
MV Girls 0 #33 3 2,021
TM Boys 0 #33 4 614
EE 0 #36 2 1,051
CL Girls 0 #37 11,173 14,098
PE Girls 0 #39 9,844 14,861
ZA 0 #39 689 14,421
TW Girls 0 #40 375 8,139
BO Girls 0 #41 3,364 9,488
DK Girls 0 #41 1,021 7,429
GE 0 #43 2 997
CO 0 #45 2,484 7,768
PR 0 #45 11 1,497
MO Girls 0 #46 311 7,056
CN 0 #47 39 3,857
UY Girls 0 #47 2,949 6,731
PA 0 #48 89 3,797
PE 0 #51 422 6,350
HN Boys 0 #52 1 749
MY 0 #52 394 12,352
CM 0 #53 4 2,592
CY 0 #53 8 1,632
CL 0 #57 1,312 6,867
EC 0 #60 57 2,502
LU 0 #61 6 2,830
JP 0 #64 14 4,057
QA 0 #64 37 7,011
DK 0 #65 203 5,198
UY 0 #65 133 2,477
MY Girls 0 #73 3,648 24,821
GE Boys 0 #74 37 2,055
OM 0 #74 43 6,215
CN Girls 0 #75 571 8,829
SI 0 #80 1 1,612
BN Girls 0 #81 26 5,459
CY Girls 0 #81 41 3,755
GT 0 #81 318 5,948
MD Boys 0 #81 1 756
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
ZA Girls 0 #86 5,522 25,928
AR Girls 0 #87 2,334 8,289
PR Girls 0 #88 81 3,171
KZ 0 #93 2 1,452
ID Girls 0 #94 9 3,319
AE 0 #97 81 10,220
KW 0 #102 15 5,216
JP Girls 0 #104 172 6,592
BO 0 #105 427 6,868
GE Girls 0 #105 4 1,564
RU Boys 0 #105 1,425 12,621
QA Girls 0 #107 241 15,378
NA Girls 0 #109 122 7,146
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
MU 0 #115 22 3,613
EE Girls 0 #119 20 1,888
Norway Girls 2025 #121 6 453
EE Boys 0 #121 5 2,087
BW Girls 0 #123 26 4,216
CY Boys 0 #129 3 3,473
GR 0 #129 7 3,911
AR 0 #132 55 2,915
IQ 0 #132 2 3,533
AE Girls 0 #134 556 20,968
JO 0 #137 4 2,158
RS Girls 0 #137 1 1,651
BN Boys 0 #139 1 6,332
LT Boys 0 #148 4 2,166
PS 0 #150 69 5,692
BW Boys 0 #153 2 4,685
RS Boys 0 #154 1 2,277
RU 0 #158 32 3,641
IL 0 #160 122 6,291
MU Girls 0 #161 208 8,539
LU Girls 0 #169 17 4,850
HU Boys 0 #172 3 3,954
SI Girls 0 #174 4 2,769
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
Sweden Girls 2021 #182 2 1,666
BR 0 #186 172 5,969
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
Sweden Boys 2015 #186 2 1,467
BR Girls 0 #187 2,722 12,708
AO Girls 0 #194 16 4,575
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
Belgium Girls 2005 #203 20 396
PL 0 #204 9 2,600
BG Boys 0 #207 13 3,850
KW Girls 0 #210 353 19,177
GR Girls 0 #211 32 6,293
NL Girls 0 #215 1,820 5,933
HU Girls 0 #217 9 3,308
NL 0 #217 187 2,481
OM Girls 0 #218 183 15,987
Spain Girls 0 #224 2,392 5,561
AL Girls 0 #225 3 4,141
PT 0 #227 20 4,161
GH 0 #228 16 5,396
BG Girls 0 #229 3 3,559
IR 0 #230 2 4,221
MO Boys 0 #233 2 5,842
EC Boys 0 #238 9 3,322
BD 0 #240 2 5,992
LB 0 #241 663 13,263
GR Boys 0 #242 26 6,912
Spain 0 #245 244 2,326
NA Boys 0 #247 7 6,830
SA 0 #248 48 10,560
NG 0 #249 16 5,926
KZ Boys 0 #251 39 6,578
GH Girls 0 #253 72 6,973
TW Boys 0 #254 3 7,111
IL Girls 0 #257 527 11,648
HR Boys 0 #258 2 3,997
JM Boys 0 #262 11 6,876
Canada Girls 2024 #277 9 2,795
PS Girls 0 #277 294 10,981
Germany Girls 0 #279 1,059 4,949
HR Girls 0 #289 6 3,687
CZ Boys 0 #293 12 6,530
AL Boys 0 #302 2 5,122
JP Boys 0 #302 2 7,909
JO Girls 0 #307 19 7,570
Germany 0 #312 130 2,542
EG Girls 0 #312 1,354 14,742
PL Boys 0 #315 21 6,459
CZ Girls 0 #317 25 5,378
Canada Boys 2019 #323 5 2,618
KZ Girls 0 #324 9 5,862
CN Boys 0 #325 7 9,639
PT Girls 0 #328 132 7,952
DK Boys 0 #332 1 7,401
PL Girls 0 #335 20 5,096
EG 0 #342 59 6,387
Finland Girls 0 #352 40 1,368
SD Girls 0 #355 4 7,678
GH Boys 0 #357 5 8,138
MU Boys 0 #367 3 8,477
UY Boys 0 #371 29 5,922
Austria Girls 0 #379 42 1,885
PT Boys 0 #381 1 7,951
France Boys 2021 #384 4 2,865
JO Boys 0 #388 2 7,057
YE 0 #390 9 8,639
France Girls 2021 #397 9 3,185
SA Girls 0 #398 632 25,931
BD Girls 0 #399 8 8,413
PH Boys 0 #402 7 11,440
IQ Girls 0 #410 95 11,303
Austria Boys 0 #429 14 2,180
RU Girls 0 #429 70 11,913
AR Boys 0 #433 35 7,628
IT Girls 0 #434 2,383 9,415
IR Boys 0 #441 113 10,162
GT Boys 0 #448 27 7,625
CM Girls 0 #457 84 11,671
BH 0 #459 95 17,937
SD Boys 0 #462 5 10,523
CR Boys 0 #463 25 10,188
PA Boys 0 #463 19 9,305
IT 0 #466 267 4,183
NG Girls 0 #493 336 15,093
HK Boys 0 #498 30 12,905
IR Girls 0 #504 27 8,334
CO Boys 0 #517 504 15,656
PS Boys 0 #534 15 10,655
LY 0 #552 8 12,703
BO Boys 0 #553 40 9,244
CM Boys 0 #567 9 12,054
CL Boys 0 #574 92 13,390
IL Boys 0 #577 31 10,983
Finland Girls 2026 #580 167 3,895
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
IQ Boys 0 #608 60 13,071
IN Girls 0 #615 17 13,121
SY 0 #630 99 11,684
SG Boys 0 #669 29 17,960
Finland Boys 2026 #672 11 3,552
QA Boys 0 #694 14 18,093
BR Boys 0 #729 23 12,213
United States Girls 2024 #733 184 8,487
KW Boys 0 #744 26 18,755
MX Boys 0 #766 220 16,355
PE Boys 0 #770 109 14,506
TN 0 #816 14 13,765
EG Boys 0 #817 70 15,035
Spain Boys 0 #853 78 5,610
OM Boys 0 #868 14 17,948
NL Boys 0 #884 68 5,873
United States Boys 2023 #894 5 7,053
Germany Boys 0 #894 59 5,697
NG Boys 0 #924 28 16,906
IN Boys 0 #943 59 16,750
MY Boys 0 #1,043 69 25,439
TR 0 #1,047 165 19,440
AE Boys 0 #1,056 37 22,615
MA 0 #1,086 43 20,986
ZA Boys 0 #1,097 82 25,619
DZ 0 #1,154 23 20,130
IT Boys 0 #1,415 57 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,542 73 28,008

Karen is popular in 93 countries — most recent births per country:

Norway
France
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Karen

Karen is predominantly a girl's name.
Karen is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈkærən/ (common) — respelling: "KAR-en" (first vowel like 'cat'); also /ˈkeərən/ in some accents ("KAIR-en").
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Karin, Karyn, Caren, Carin, Caryn and Karrin.
Yes, very popular — Karen ranked #1 in Ireland in 2019, and appears in official birth registries across 10 countries.
Karen ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2019).
Karen's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2009 to #1 in 2019 in Ireland.
Yes — 17 notable people named Karen are in our database, including Karen Gillan (Actor), Karen Black (Actor), MØ (Musician).