Karen

Girl's name

Karen is a Danish name derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, meaning "pure" or "clear."

Meaning Pure
Origin Greek
U.S. births in 2023 184 Falling
Peak year 1957

Appears In These Collections

Popularity Over Time

Births per year in the United States

Source: Social Security Administration

Notable Namesakes

  • Karen Carpenter - Singer in The Carpenters.
  • Karen Gillan - Actress in "Doctor Who" and "Guardians of the Galaxy."
  • Karen Allen - Actress in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."
  • Karen Black - Actress in "Five Easy Pieces" and "Nashville."
  • Karen Huger - Reality TV star on "The Real Housewives of Potomac."
  • Karen Mok - Hong Kong singer and actress.
  • Karen McDougal - Model and former Playboy Playmate.
  • Karen Elson - British model and singer-songwriter.
  • Karen Fukuhara - Actress in "The Boys" and "Suicide Squad."
  • Karen O - Lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Sisters for Karen

Girl names closely related to Karen

Brothers for Karen

Boy names closely related to Karen

Name Variants

Names with similar meaning to Karen

Keep your name list moving

Save favorites, compare similar names, and keep exploring beyond Karen in the Baby Name Genius app.