Karen ( ) is a given name and occasional surname. In English, it is a feminine given name derived from the name Katherine.
English Karen entered the English language from Danish, where it has been a short form of "Katherine" since medieval times. It became popular in the English-speaking world in the 1940s. The name Karen was one of the top 10 names for girls born in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, peaking as the third most popular girl's name in 1965.
Variants include Caren, Caryn, Karena, Karin, Karyn, and others.Вehind the Name – Karen (1)
In part due to its increasingly common derogatory use since 2017, the name has become significantly less popular in the United States in recent years. However, the name had already peaked in use and gone out of fashion prior to 2017. One recent study found that the perceived disrespect and verbal abuse they experience because of their name has had a negative impact on the mental health of women who are named Karen. Participants in the study came from a variety of racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds, reflecting the enormous, widespread popularity of the name in the Anglosphere during the mid-20th century.
Armenian In Armenia Karen (, ) is a common masculine given name.
The masculine given name Karen derived from the Parthian name of House of Karen (or Caren), one of the seven aristocratic families of ancient Iran. Several Iranian princes named Karen are known before and after the Islamic period. The Karen house ruled the Tabaristan region of Iran, which approximately corresponds to the current provinces of Gilan state and Mazandaran.
The masculine given name Garen is a Western Armenian form of the Eastern Armenian Karen.
The masculine given name Karen was mentioned by the prominent Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi (c. 410–490s AD; Armenian: Մովսես Խորենացի) in his book History of Armenia.History of the Armenia by Movses Khorenatsi: Book_2_#28 and Book_2_#68
Karen can also be a surname.
In East Asia In East Asia, Karen is a feminine given name. The name can be found in Japan. It may come from ("pretty, lovely"),可憐の英訳 (combining kanji meaning "flower" and "lotus or water lily")Behind the name – Karen (3) or other meanings.
Notable people
First name
Surname Anna Karen (1936–2022), British actress James Karen (1923–2018), American actor Tom Karen (1926–2022), British industrial designer
West Asian people Armenian people Karen Abrahamyan (born 1966), Armenian politician Karen Aghamyan (born 1946), Armenian painter Karen Aleksanyan (born 1980), Armenian football midfielder Karen Andreasyan (born 1977), Armenian human rights defender Karen Asatryan (born 1974), Armenian football player Karen Asrian (1980–2008), Armenian chess grandmaster Karen Demirchyan (1932–1999), Armenian politician Karen Drambjan (1954–2011), Armenian-born Estonian lawyer, politician and activist Karen Jalavyan (born 1971), Armenian Colonel in Artsakh Karen Kavaleryan (born 1961), Russian musician and composer Karen Karapetyan (born 1963), Armenian politician and Prime minister of Armenia from 2016 to 2018 Karen Khachanov (born 1996), Russian tennis player of Armenian descent Karen Khachaturian (1920–2011), Russian composer of Armenian descent Karen Sargsyan (conductor) (born 1952), Armenian choirmaster Karen Shakhnazarov (born 1952), Russian filmmaker, producer and screenwriter of Armenian descent
Surname Iranian people Zarmihr Karen (died 558), Iranian nobleman and Sasanian governor of Zabulistan
East Asian people Karen Iwata (born 1998), Japanese singer Karen Kong, Malaysian singer Karen Makishima (born 1976), Japanese politician Karen Miyama (born 1996), Japanese actress Karen Mok (born 1970), Hong Kong singer and actress Karen Nun-Ira (born 1991), Japanese judoka Karen Tanaka (born 1961), Japanese composer Karen Takizawa (born 1992), Japanese model, tarento and actress Karen Yu (born 1980), Taiwanese politician
Fictional people Live action Karen (The Walking Dead), a female character in the TV series The Walking Dead Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie, on the television series Knots Landing Karen Davis, in the 2004 motion picture The Grudge Karen Filippelli, on the U.S. version of the television series The Office Karen Foster, fictional character on Step By Step Karen Hayes, on the television series 24 Karen McDonald, on ITV soap opera Coronation Street Karen Mizuki, in J.A.K.Q. Dengekitai Karen Page, a version of the comics character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Karen Spencer, on the CBS Daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful Karen Taylor, in the BBC soap opera EastEnders Chief Karen Vick, a character from the American television dramedy Psych Karen Walker, in the television series Will & Grace
Animation Karen, companion of Frosty the Snowman Karen Onodera from Please Twins! Karen Plankton, one of two main antagonists in SpongeBob SquarePants and its film series
Print Karen Page, a character created by Marvel Comics
See also
Caron (name) Garen (disambiguation) Karan (given name) Karan (surname) Karien Karen people Karen (slang) Karey (disambiguation)
References