Baby Names Girl Names Karen Name Meaning Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Karen. By Leah Campbell Published on July 2, 2024 Fact checked by Elizabeth Brownfield In This Article View All In This Article How Popular Is the Name Karen? Name Variations Similar Names Suggested Sibling Names Famous People Named Karen Close 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 cultures. Origin: The origin of the name Karen is Scandinavian.Gender: Karen is usually considered a girl's name.Pronunciation: KAH-rehn (Danish), KEHR-en (English), KA-ran (German) Editor's Note Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents 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. How Popular Is the Name Karen? 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 for girls, remaining in the top 10 between 1951 and 1968. In 2020, Karen ranked No. 823 but by 2021, the name was no longer ranking in the top 1,000 names for girls in the US. Name Variations There are several different spelling options for the name Karen: CarenCarynKaranKaronKarynKerinKerryn Similar Names Other names that sound like Karen include: KareemKarenaKarimKarmaKieranKoren Other names that start with a "K" include: KaitlynKassidyKateKayleeKendallKennedyKenzieKinsleyKhloeKristinaKylieKyra Suggested Sibling Names Looking for a sibling name for Karen? Names that go well with Karen include: Aaron Diane Kenneth Kristy Michael Michelle Nancy Famous People Named Karen Some of the most famous Karens in history include: Karen Carpenter, singer in the CarpentersKaren Huger, reality star from The Real Housewives of PotomacKaren 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 100 Russian Baby Names 50 Dutch Baby Names Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Popularity of a Name. Social Security Administration. 2024.