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Baby names

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

Original poster

Alternative names to Karen

133 replies

StarsieZ · 18/09/2022 04:25

My mum recently passed away, I had never thought of using her name to name any future daughters but the question came up the other day from a friend and it's made me question it. Alas, my mums name was 'Karen' and I am not going to name my child that even as a middle name.

Does anyone have any ideas as to names that are similar/nickname etc that I might use? My mum didn't have a middle name either so that's out too, I did think of 'Wren' but that's as far as I've got.

Thanks for any advice/ideas 😊

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Original poster
StarsieZ · 18/09/2022 12:34

LadyOfTheCanyon · 18/09/2022 08:11

I'm sorry for your loss. Do remember that you are under no obligation to honour your mum in this way. You honour her memory in your heart and thoughts and memories and conversations with other people every single day. It's not necessary to give your daughter a name that you feel like you might have to shoehorn in.

Choose a name you genuinely love for your daughter and teach her as she grows what a wonderful woman your mother was. Flowers

Thank you, I don't really know what to do, I will definitely be thinking about it, I kinda feel like it's going to be expected of me now, I might not even have a girl, I might have another boy. But if I do have a girl, I have had a first name in mind for a very long time xx

OP posts:
Poorbilliejean · 18/09/2022 12:30

So sorry for your loss. My mum passed away when I was 6 months pregnant, she also had cancer. She made me promise I wouldn’t use her name for the baby, it was a jokey conversation we had I also knew she meant it. I thought about honouring her somehow without using her name. Perhaps using her initial but having a different name. Perhaps using her nickname which was used by family as a middle name. In the end I decided not to as none of the names which fitted in the with them ideas I had really worked or were what I called her. I did only steer towards names which were ones I knew she liked. We didn’t find out what we were having and it’s one of my life regrets, I wish I’d have found out and told her and we’d chosen a name before she passed. Either way, don’t feel pressured. You’ll honour your mum in the best way for you.

Original poster
StarsieZ · 18/09/2022 12:22

Peasplease12 · 18/09/2022 08:31

Did you mum have a favourite flower or artist or singer- something that would remind you of her that could make a nice middle name

She loved roses and lilies, maybe an idea x

OP posts:
Original poster
StarsieZ · 18/09/2022 12:21

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 18/09/2022 08:36

🎉congratulations on your pregnancy!!

I'm so sorry to hear about your Mum 💐

think you should honour you Mum, by using a name you love!! ❤️

Having your own child when your mum has died can bring up all kinds of issues. Don't be hesitant to get help xx

Yes thank you, I didn't realise how weird I would feel about the whole thing, I know it's very soon after and we've had a lot going on this year. Hopefully this will be a happy time for us all xx

OP posts:
Original poster
StarsieZ · 18/09/2022 12:20

Beentheredunnthat · 18/09/2022 09:37

Love the idea of using one of your mums favourite things as a name as an alternative to Karen.

You could also consider using a different name that shares the same meaning.

Karen means "pure" so heres a list of other "pure" names, some lovely ones on the list imho.

nameberry.com/list/660/names-that-mean-pure

Thank you for taking the time to write this, I will have a look x

OP posts:
Original poster
StarsieZ · 18/09/2022 12:19

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to suggest names, I appreciate each and every one x

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Original poster
StarsieZ · 18/09/2022 12:18

knackeredagain · 18/09/2022 09:51

How about your mum’s birth month or stone?

April, Ruby etc

Sorry for your loss 🌸

That's a nice idea, she was a June birthday so would be Pearl

OP posts:
Original poster
StarsieZ · 18/09/2022 12:18

AntiHop · 18/09/2022 09:44

What about your mum's middle name?

She didn't have one sadly xx

OP posts:
coolaidUK · 18/09/2022 11:57

Karen is the Danish form of Katherine so maybe that?

CPL593H · 18/09/2022 11:52

Carenza? (lovely archaeologist who used to be on Time Team was a Carenza)

felulageller · 18/09/2022 11:49

Kara
Karenina
Klara
Karena

caitlinrose · 18/09/2022 11:44

Wren would be too far removed from the original name for me to consider it honouring. If it works for you then that's fine, though!

I would go with something like:

Kara
Karina
Karine (kah-reen, French)
Karissa
Karena
Kari

LondonQueen · 18/09/2022 10:30

Kathrine?

kuvira · 18/09/2022 10:30

Sorry for your loss.

I can understand wanting to honour your mum but not wanting to use the name Karen. Some insults do die out eventually, but others stick around. I wouldn't want to take my chances with my child's name.

I think Katherine would be a good pick because it's the original form of Karen and it's phonetically quite similar.

Otherwise I would suggest:
Carrie
Kara / Cara
Karine
Karina
Corinne

knackeredagain · 18/09/2022 09:51

How about your mum’s birth month or stone?

April, Ruby etc

Sorry for your loss 🌸

MrsMoastyToasty · 18/09/2022 09:47

Carenza
Kerryn
Kay

AntiHop · 18/09/2022 09:44

What about your mum's middle name?

Snog · 18/09/2022 09:43

Kara

UnaOfStormhold · 18/09/2022 09:42

Is your mum's maiden name a possibility?

FredrikaPeri · 18/09/2022 09:41

Katerina
Katheryn
Katie
Kate
Karys
Kaitlyn

Beentheredunnthat · 18/09/2022 09:37

Love the idea of using one of your mums favourite things as a name as an alternative to Karen.

You could also consider using a different name that shares the same meaning.

Karen means "pure" so heres a list of other "pure" names, some lovely ones on the list imho.

nameberry.com/list/660/names-that-mean-pure

Gr33ngr33ngr4ss · 18/09/2022 09:29

Sorry for your loss.

Is there a virtue name that sums up your mum?

londonlass71 · 18/09/2022 09:25

Kitty is a nice name

Waxlyrically · 18/09/2022 09:20

I'm a Karen riding out all the current stupidness around my name. My Mum always called me Ren or Rennie though & rarely Karen.

Even though she passed away a fewv years ago if I hear her voice in my head she always says Ren.

So sorry about your own Mum OP - it's hard I know x

RuthW · 18/09/2022 09:06

Karenza, but I love Wren.

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