Karen
Meaning: Its source is Katarina, a Scandinavian name meaning "Pure."
Origin: "Katarina."
Languages: This girl's name is used in German, Dutch, English, Norwegian and Danish.
Compound Forms: Karen-Margrete
Alternative Spellings: Caren, Carin, Caron, Carrin, Carron, Caryn, Carynn, Karan, Karon, Karren, Karrin, Karryn, Karyn, Karynn and Keren
Popularity: The name Karen ranked 151st in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 13th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
This name first made its appearance on state popularity lists before 1993, but is becoming less commonly used. In some cases, it has fallen off the lists altogether.
Narrative: This Danish variation of Katarina was introduced to America by Scandinavian settlers. It was adopted by Americans of all nationalities, reaching the zenith of its popularity in the middle of the twentieth century.
One commentator believes its popularity rose and fell with that of sound-alike names Sharon and Darren, citing the name's many alternate spellings as evidence of the popularity of the ''-ren'' sound.
Leadership
- Karen LeCraft Henderson
American judge.
- Circuit Judge, District of Columbia Circuit Court (see list of Judges of the U.S. Courts of Appeals)
- Karen Horn
American businesswoman.
- First woman CEO of a Federal Reserve Bank (see list of Miscellaneous Business Leaders)
- Karen Katen
- 14th Most Powerful Woman, President, U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group Pfizer (see list of 2000 Fortune 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business)
- 16th Most Powerful Woman, EVP Global, President U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group, Pfizer (see list of 1999 Fortune 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business)
- Karen McCarthy (born 1947)
American legislator.
- Representative, D-Missouri, 1995- (see list of Women in the House of Representatives)
- Karen Nelson Moore
American judge.
- Circuit Judge, Sixth Circuit Court (see list of Judges of the U.S. Courts of Appeals)
- Karen Shepherd (born 1941)
American politician.
- Representative, D-Utah, 1993-95 (see list of Women in the House of Representatives)
- Karen L. Thurman (born 1951)
American politician.
- Representative, D-Florida, 1993- (see list of Women in the House of Representatives)
- Karen J. Williams
American judge.
- Circuit Judge, Fourth Circuit Court (see list of Judges of the U.S. Courts of Appeals)
Miscellaneous
- Karen Baldwin
- 1982 Miss Universe titleholder, representing Canada (see list of Miss Universe Winners)
- Karen
- Hurricane or tropical storm (see list of Hurricane and Tropical Storm Names)
- Karen Mulder
- Dutch model (see list of Fashion Models)
- Karen Petersen
- 1975 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
Science and Philosophy
- Karen Horney (born 1885, died 1952)
German-born American psychiatrist.
- Wrote Neurosis and Human Growth (see list of Medical Practitioners)
Sports
- Karen Magnussen
- 1973 World Figure Skating champion (see list of World Figure Skating Champions)
- Karen Moe
American athlete.
- 1972 Olympic swimming gold medal winner for 200m butterfly (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Miscellaneous Swimming Events)
- Karen Smyers
- 1995 Ironman Triathlon winner (see list of Ironman Triathlon Winners)
- Karen Hantze Susman
American tennis player.
- 1962 Wimbledon tennis champion (see list of Wimbledon Tennis Champions)
Stage and Screen
- Karen Dotrice
British actress.
- Portrayed Lliy (see list of Actors on ''Upstairs, Downstairs'')
- Karen Grassle (born 1944)
American actress.
- Portrayed Caroline Ingalls (see list of Actors on ''Little House on the Prairie'')
- Karen Hensel
American actress.
- Actress on the soap opera ''''The Young and the Restless'''' (see list of Performers on ''The Young and the Restless'')
- Karen Pendleton
- 1950s Mouseketeer (see list of 1950s Mickey Mouse Club)
- Karen Wright
Fictional character.
- Character in The Children''s Hour (see list of see Audrey Hepburn's Roles)
The Literary World
- Karen Blessen
- 1989 Pulitzer Prize winner for Explanatory Journalism (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Journalism)
- Karen Cushman
- 1996 Newbery Medal winner, for The Midwife''s Apprentice (see list of Newbery Medal Winners)
- Karen Hesse (born 1952)
American children's and young adult author
- 1998 Newbery Medal award winner for Out of the Dust (see list of Newbery Medal Winners)
- Karen Elliot House
- 1984 Pulitzer Prize winner for International Reporting (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting)
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| Karin | ![]() |
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| Karan | ![]() |
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| Karanne | ![]() |
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| Kareen | ![]() |
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| Karene | ![]() |
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| Karien | ![]() |
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| Karine | ![]() |
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| Karinne | ![]() |
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| Karma | ![]() |
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| Karon | ![]() |
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| Karren | ![]() |
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| Karrin | ![]() |
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| Karrine | ![]() |
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| Karryn | ![]() |
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| Karyen | ![]() |
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| Karyn | ![]() |
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| Karyne | ![]() |
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| Karynn | ![]() |
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| Keren | ![]() |
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| Kerrin | ![]() |
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| Kerrine | ![]() |
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| Koreen | ![]() |
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| Koren | ![]() |
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| Korine | ![]() |
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| Korinne | ![]() |
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Teasing Nicknames:
- Care Bear
- Carrot
- Raisin
- Karen the Red Baron
- Kaz the Spaz
- Karen Fair
- Ka Ka
- Ren Bird
- Renny
- Ki Ki
- Karen the Electric Current








