Karen

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Karen

Gender: Feminine
Language: English, Danish
Etymology:
Karen is a Scandinavian form of Katherine, which is a blend of the (possibly) Coptic name Aikaterina and the Greek word “katharos” (pure). Possibly connected with the Greek word “aikia” (torture) or the goddess of the underworld named Hecate.

History:
Karen was brought to the United States by Scandinavian immigrants in the 1800s. It became very popular in the forties and spilled over to Britain in the fifties.

Pronunciation: CARE-in.

Diminutives: Kar, Kaz.

Alternates: Carren, Karena, Karyn, Karina, Karrin, Karren, Karon, Karan.
Hawaiian: Kalena, Kalina.
Swedish: Karin.
Welsh: Caron.

See also: Karina.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Karin Boye (1900-1941)
Swedish poet.

Fictional Characters:
Karin Enke (1961-)
German figure skater.

Scientists:
Karen Horney (1885-1952)
German-American psychoanalyst.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.667 % named Karen
0.023 % named Karin
0.013 % named Karina
0.009 % named Karyn
0.001 % named Karena

Popularity of Karen:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 919th most popular.
1910-1930: N/A
1930-1940: 141st most popular.
1940-1950: 15th most popular.
1950-1960: 8th most popular.
1950: N/A
1951: 10th most popular.
1952: N/A
1953: 10th most popular.
1954: 9th most popular.
1955: 9th most popular.
1956: 7th most popular.
1957: 4th most popular.
1958: 5th most popular.
1959: 7th most popular.
1960: 4th most popular.
1961: 5th most popular.
1962: 4th most popular.
1963: 5th most popular.
1964: 5th most popular.
1965: 3rd most popular.
1966: 8th most popular.
1967: 6th most popular.
1968: N/A
1969: 10th most popular.
1970-1980: 24th most popular.
1980-1990: 80th most popular.
1990: 110th most popular.
1991: 117th most popular.
1992: 111th most popular.
1993: 109th most popular.
1994: 120th most popular.
1995: 132nd most popular.
1996: 125th most popular.
1997: 143rd most popular.
1998: 153rd most popular.
1999: 149th most popular.
2000: 155th most popular.
2001: 150th most popular.
2001: 150th most popular.
2002: 152nd most popular.
2003: 143rd most popular.

In France...
1900-1970: N/A
1971: 188th most popular.
1975: 72nd most popular.
1980: 105th most popular.
1987: 167th most popular.
1990-2000: N/A

Popularity of Karin:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1930: N/A
1930-1940: 894th most popular.
1940-1950: 437th most popular.
1950-1960: 381st most popular.
1960-1970: 337th most popular.
1970-1980: 381st most popular.
1980-1990: 715th most popular.
1990-2000: N/A

Popularity of Karyn:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1940: N/A
1940-1950: 926th most popular.
1950-1960: 730th most popular.
1960-1970: 455th most popular.
1970-1980: 500th most popular.
1980-2000: N/A