Name meaning & stats
Karen
Karen (Danish origin). 972,920 US babies since 1940, peak 1957. Notable Karens are 1.7× over-represented as politicians.
What it means
No agreed meaning on record
Danish
A Danish form of Catherine.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1957
972,920 US babies were named Karen between 1940 and 2025.
Where Karens end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 1.7× | High · 101 people |
| Writer | 1.3× | High · 100 people |
| Actor | 0.7× | High · 77 people |
| Professor | 1.3× | High · 54 people |
Among notable women who are politicians, Karens show up 1.7× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Karen has a surprise career: 1.8×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 91% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1957)