Karen

[lolianja]

Am coming up 10 weeks up the ol' spout with twinnies. 3-month-old son is a James aka Jimmy and as yet we (of course) are unaware of the genders of the twins. My mother's convinced it's two girls, I think it's a boy and a girl - although in fairness I was woefully wrong last time around.

Favourite prior to this was Alice for a girl but I've found myself warming to Karen in a big way. The youngest I know is a couple of years younger than me (I'm 20) so it's a little passé, but I don't think this will be a problem. I like retro!

Any musings? I'm going to be here a LOT over the next few months with my name-related flights of fancy!

[cyteen]

I really like Karen actually, always have. There certainly won't be as many around there are Alices, Matildas, Evies etc. so I say go for it.

[mymatemarmite]

Thats my real name, It means "pure" (so I have been told!

[Weegiemum]

I like it. My dd1 is 9 and has a Karen in her class.

[womma]

One of the worst names there is!

[rubyslippers]

Prefer Keren

but Karen is fine - it is fairly under used

[shootfromthehip]

I don't like it, sorry. It's an ok name for an adult but I just couldn't imagine calling a wee tiny baby 'Karen'. Nope.

[Heated]

I like Seren but not Karen. Feel slightly more positive about Caron, dunno why.

[lolianja]

shootfromthehip - I suspect that may be part of the appeal for me. I seem to have a bit of a fetish (in the innocent sense of word) for man/woman names (man names in particular) on babies. The Poppy, Alfie, Kai stuff just doesn't do it for at all. Absolute favourites are things like Robert, Thomas, Benjamin, John, Max, etc which I think work fine on kiddies. But I harbour serious soft spots for things like Simon, Richard, Stephen, Mark, Andrew (latter 2 being my son James' middle names) etc that aren't used much anymore.

I LOVE Karen. I like Claire quite a lot as well.

[magbags]

Not keen sorry, sounds quite 80s to me.

[belcantwait]

i think its shit. esp for a baby. sorry but you did ask

[Disenchanted3]

Oi Womma its my mums name & its fab for a 45 year old mum.

[pramspotter]

I have hated every Karen I have every known. Sorry.

[Sidge]

Not keen on Karen but I like Rachel.

[Tatties]

I think if you love it go for it! I am close to a Karen (my parents' generation) so I do like it. Think it is definitely underused atm. The daughter in Outnumbered was Karen, wasn't she, I thought it was nice and unusual to hear the name on a child

[Tinker]

I think it's hard sounding. It's like Janet to me.

[qumquat]

I think it's really nice and will be so unusual. The daughter in Outnumbered is called Karen and I think it suits her brilliantly and she is thoroughly childlike!

[newpup]

My lovely, lovely friend was called karen and she was pretty, funny, clever and fun. I always smile when I hear that name.

Very retro
Very chic
Very good name!

[MamaG]

Alice is hte BEST

[treacletart]

I think its quite retro cool too - isn't the little girl in Outnumbered called Karen?

[Fimbo]

I know loads in their 30's and 40's one even spells it Caryn. I think I would prefer that spelling if naming a child now.

[bluejeans]

I think you could start a trend ressurrecting the names from our (well my) generation:

Karen
Gillian
Amanda
Wendy
Linda
Alison
Lynne
Julie
Tracy etc etc!

[random]

She will be called Kaz tho.......

[jollyjoanne]

Hi Loli, I like strong sounding names too, I think Karen is good but I may be biased as it is the name of one of my closest friends!

[edam]

random's right, can you bear it when she's a teenager and tells you her name is Kaz?

[Pinner35]

I like it ......would go with Karin though.