Karen - name meaning and origin

The girl's name Karen \k(a)-ren\ is pronounced KARE-en. It is of Danish origin. Short form of Katherine (Greek) "pure". See also Caryn, Karina, and Keren. Writer Karen Blixen; singer Karen Carpenter; actress Karen Allen.

Karen has 29 variant forms: Caren, Carin, Caron, Caronn, Carren, Carrin, Carron, Carryn, Caryn, Carynn, Carynne, Karan, Kari, Karin, Karna, Karon, Karren, Karrin, Karryn, Karyn, Kerran, Kerrin, Kerron, Kerrynn, Keryn, Kerynne, Taran, Taren and Taryn.

For more information, see also related names Kalina and Catherine.

Baby names that sound like Karen are Karena, Karene, Kareen and Koren.

Karen is a very popular female first name and a popular surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Karen. Compare Karen with related baby names.