A Greek name gently fading from the charts.
A female given name from Ancient Greek.
Karen is a girl's and boy's baby name of Greek origin, the Danish and Norwegian form of Katherine, itself from the Greek Aikaterine, meaning 'pure.' It entered the English-speaking world through Scandinavian immigration in the early 20th century.
Karen ranked in the U.S. top 3 from the mid-1950s through the 60s, making it one of the most popular names of the Baby Boom era. It's a crisp, clear name that's ready for reappraisal.
Karen was #155 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1263, but its charm endures.
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,169 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 7,357 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 20,608 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 24,515 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 34,917 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 95,173 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 286,054 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 332,533 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 167,699 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 16,692 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 564 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 304 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 98 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 79 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 49 | — |
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 184 | #1263 |
| 2023 | 226 | #1089 |
| 2022 | 199 | #1217 |
| 2021 | 229 | #1088 |
| 2020 | 331 | #823 |
| 2019 | 439 | #661 |
| 2018 | 470 | #636 |
| 2017 | 554 | #556 |
| 2016 | 617 | #508 |
| 2015 | 627 | #505 |
| 2014 | 633 | #494 |
| 2013 | 730 | #416 |
| 2012 | 896 | #354 |
| 2011 | 1,104 | #287 |
| 2010 | 1,287 | #249 |
| 2009 | 1,433 | #231 |
| 2008 | 1,816 | #187 |
| 2007 | 2,172 | #165 |
| 2006 | 2,030 | #173 |
| 2005 | 2,065 | #164 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Karen has also been given to 2,784 boys in the U.S. since 1935.
Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1881–2024) · Methodology