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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

What do you think of Karen?

90 replies

vividgingerchilli · 04/08/2011 22:29

I am thinking of using this name for as yet unborn DD, any thoughts? And any suggestions for an unusual but not weird middle name to go with it please?
Thanks

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reelingintheyears · 05/08/2011 19:03

I always thought Karen was a bit Scandinavian.

mathanxiety · 05/08/2011 18:57

I knew a Karin whose parents were German. She pronounced it KAHR-een. Click on the German pronunciation

Popbiscuit · 05/08/2011 18:05

I think it's a great name! Unusual but not weird and I doubt you'd ever have to spell it. What a refreshing change from all the maddies/evies/avas etc.

It is a 1970's name but I think it has an x-factor that sets it apart from Tracey, Michelle, Sharon et al.

pranma · 05/08/2011 18:01

Karen louisa is lovely and Karen is very pretty and so unusual these days.

reelingintheyears · 05/08/2011 17:54

Janet is ok too...maybe a bit boring

Janet and John books from my childhood!

My old fashioned 'hates' are Agnes and Gertrude and Prudence and Esme and Brenda.

reelingintheyears · 05/08/2011 17:51

I love Karen....lovely name...

Can see that others may think a little old fashioned but then so are most names these days.

Thinking all my Great Aunties called Lucy/Elizabeth/Dorothy/Alice/Emily.

My Grannies were Isabel/Dorothy.
G Grannies were Violet/Catherine/Annie and Olive.

izzybizzybuzzybees · 05/08/2011 17:51

Its my name too, middle name Janet which i hate!

carabos · 05/08/2011 17:46

I'm in my forties and know lots of Karens. Its a pretty name and would be unusual for a baby today, which would make it special. Easy to say and spell for all ages.

marjolaine · 05/08/2011 16:42

Tis my mother's name so feels a bit dated to me but as a name it's ok. Her middle name is Mar1e which isn't unusual but still is quite pretty with it.

SaffronCake · 05/08/2011 16:41

I think it needs a bit longer before it has the retro-cool factor which gives a revivial. I think it will have a revival, but probably in time for your daughters daughter, rather than your baby herself.

bruffin · 05/08/2011 16:31

My BF at school was a Karen Lesley, we were born in 62 and there were a lot of Karens at our school. I think she was named after Leslie Caron the actress.

everlong · 05/08/2011 16:18

This reply has been deleted

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Suncottage · 05/08/2011 16:15

Yep - I do tend to put it in with the Julie, Debbie, Nicky, Mandy, Jackie, Tracey, Michelle sort of era.

Maybe I need a few more years! Grin

GetOrfMoiSamsungFridgeFreezer · 05/08/2011 16:09

I actually think it is a pretty name, however it does have connotations. It is one of those names which makes you assume that the person writes with big circles above their i's instead of dots.

I have an equally grim 80s name (Kirsty).

I don't think it is due a revival just yet. Nicola, Louise, Lindsay, Tracey, Julie, Linda meh

mopsyflopsy · 05/08/2011 16:04

Lovely, underused classic name.

Makes a refreshing change from all the Evie/Eva/Ellie/Ellas you meet these days. Great choice imo.

kazzymac · 05/08/2011 13:55

Well I am a Karen with Ann being my middle name. I am also a 70's child! I have only had a few occasions where people ask me to spell my name and usually ask is that Karen with a K or C? As in Caron? I like my name Smile

Karenhappuch · 05/08/2011 09:24

It's my name!

What I didn't like about it when I was growing up was that I was one of half a dozen other Karens in my year at school. This would obviously not be a problem today.

Looking at the stats for the last 3 years, there have been about thirty-ish Karens registered so that puts the name in the top 1000. I think looking at it objectively, it's no different to names like Lauren, Megan, Seren, Tegan etc ie 2 syllable ending in 'en' names which are pretty popular at the moment for girls and more so for boys (think Ethan etc.).

I think maybe a revival is due for the name in about 30 years or so (when all the Karens are in their 70's) so anyone using Karen today would certainly be well ahead of the curve.

Would I use it? Probably not - maybe as a mn. I still prefer Katherine/Catherine from which Karen originates as I think it is a timeless classic and in all honesty I would prefer to be called this rather than Karen.

FellatioNelson · 05/08/2011 06:08

Putting all preconceptions about age and era aside, and trying to view it in isolation, I think it's a nice name. However, I know all things go round on a fashion loop but personally I'm not ready to hear the 'Karen, Julie, Debbie, Lisa etc' loop again just yet!

mathanxiety · 05/08/2011 05:47

It has been staging a comeback in Ireland, where it never really went 'out'. Much nicer than so many other 70s names imo.

sleepywombat · 05/08/2011 05:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
vividgingerchilli · 05/08/2011 05:31

Louise is nice...or maybe Louisa.
Thanks.

OP posts:
PricklyThistle · 05/08/2011 00:18

If people are saying that it's due a revival in 10-20 years, that would be a good reason to me to give it to a child now! Nice name Smile
There's a place near me called Carron, which is another spelling.

No idea about a middle name! Depends on your surname, and I always think that middle names are good for using family names.

MerylStrop · 04/08/2011 23:16

I think it is a really beautiful name
Most of the Karens I know are in their late 30s/early 40s - was v popular then
Doesn't make it any less nice IMO

MrsFlittersnoop · 04/08/2011 23:14

Lovely, "retro" and therefore unusual name! There were at least 4 Karens in my 60's primary school class. (We did have classses of 40+ though Hmm )

Also spelt Caron and Karon as I recall :)

Sandalwood · 04/08/2011 23:14

I like it.