Karen
Karen is the Danish form of Katherine, which comes from the Greek "Aikaterine" — possibly from "katharos" (pure). The name has been common in Denmark for centuries and was brought to the US by Scandinavian immigrants. As an English-language first name, Karen is essentially mid-20th-century. Karen was a top-100 American name from 1935 to 1985, peaking at #3 from 1965 to 1967 — held out of #1 only by Lisa and Mary. The peak was so concentrated that Karen now reads as definitively mid-century. Karen Carpenter (1950-1983), the singer and drummer of the Carpenters, had one of the most distinctive voices in pop music. Karen Blixen (1885-1962), the Danish author of "Out of Africa" (1937), gave the name a literary dimension. I find Karen has a brisk, slightly mid-century quality. In the 2020s, the name became a pejorative internet meme — "Karen" as a slang term for an entitled, complaining middle-aged white woman. This association has severely damaged the name's appeal. Karen has been outside the US top 500 since 2018. Karen is a female name of Danish (from Katherine) origin that means "Pure (Danish form of Katherine)". Mid-century, brisk, and complicated by meme culture. The name sounds plain. Karens vary widely. US peaked #3 in 1965-67. Outside top 500 since 2018. Well-known people named Karen include Karen Carpenter (singer), Karen Blixen (author), Karen (Danish form), Karen (internet meme). Common variations and related forms of Karen include Karin (German/Scandinavian), Katherine (root name), Karena (variant), Kari (nickname).