Karen
Karen is a girl name of Danish, from Greek origin, meaning “Pure”.
| Meaning | Pure |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Danish, from Greek |
| Pronunciation | KAIR-un |
| Tradition | Modern & Classic, Christian |
| Used in | Denmark, United States, Norway, United Kingdom |
Meaning and origin of Karen
Karen is a Danish short form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine, whose origin is unknown; it was later linked to katharos, 'pure'. The Danish writer Karen Blixen, author of Out of Africa, is a famous bearer. Karen became extremely popular in the United States and Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, and in recent years it has also been used as slang, which has made it less common for babies.
Is Karen a religious name?
Through Katherine, Karen recalls Saint Catherine of Alexandria, though it is generally used as a secular name.
How popular is Karen?
Very common among women born in the mid-twentieth century; rarely chosen for babies today.
Gifts with the name Karen
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Spellings and variants of Karen
Names similar to Karen
More girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Karen mean?
Karen means 'Pure'. It is of Danish, from Greek origin.
Does Karen have a religious meaning?
Through Katherine, Karen recalls Saint Catherine of Alexandria, though it is generally used as a secular name.
How do you pronounce Karen?
Karen is pronounced KAIR-un.
Is Karen a boy or girl name?
Karen is usually a girl name.