We want our names as middle name for baby, but my name is awful.

Just saw Karen and had to comment!
it’s the person not the name people will ‘like’ or not but who cares she’s your child - Karen is a lovely name (I my opinion) lol 🥰

Don't be bullied into using a name you dislike for your child. There are no rules on having to use your own name as a middle name, I don't know anyone who has done this.

Carys or Karys could work? Carys is Welsh, Karys is Cornish.

Caron, Karin, Kara, Carrie?
All similar but no Karen spelling.

Karen is much nicer than Kerry!

I knew some girls called Karen when I was growing up (still do know one of them actually) and there was absolutely no stigma to the name then and I don't associate it with them. It will pass. But if you really hate your first name why not use your second name for your daughter's middle name? FWIW I think that Kerensa is a lovely name.

Did the OP ever confirm if this is a hypothetical situation or if she's actually pregnant with a DD? Her initial post isn't clear

(And its a whole lot of unnecessary angst if she isn't expecting a DD!)

Tbh, I think there's something a bit narcissistic about parents giving their children their own names. But that said, if that practice is what you're set on, I would not let the stupid trend of 'Karen' as an insult put you off using it.

I always find it a bit sad when someone isn't given a middle name. My children have two each, after friends and relatives (all names we liked, admittedly) - their first names are fully 'new' and 'theirs' (established names, but not after anyone we know/knew).

What about Keren

I’m for Karenza , as I know one !😊

My niece is called Karin, its a lovely sounding name. But as other posters have said, you really don't need to over complicate your child's name - they're a unique human being whatever they're called.

I only found out that my auntie Sue was actually called Isabel Susan from the order of service at her funeral.

No idea why she went by Sue, because Isabel is a much nicer name and was really unusual back then.

I don't see the point of trying to give your child a family name if you're then going to change it to something similar but different.

Either use your middle name, or just use Karen. I don't think your husband should be able to overrule you on this if he's already had his pick.

For what it's worth I think Karen is a nice name, I'm 99% sure it won't be an insult anymore by the time your daughter is old enough to care about such things, but it will be very unusual in her generation for obvious reasons.

I used to look after an elderly man with dementia and on my job sheet he was always down as 'John'. I normally visited him a few times a day then once I saw the name 'Kenneth' on my job sheet with the same address and surname. I was confused but apparently that was his name but he had always used 'John'.

Caranna, is a pretty name and also a small town in Southern Italy.

Please don’t saddle your kid with a name you hate,you’ll end up not using it which will cause problems.
Give your child a name you like and use your name or middle name,for their middle ( redundant)name if you must and tell hubby to get a grip.
My parents named me Christina Louise but then mum decided folk would shorten Christina to Tina which she hated,hence for 55 years I’ve been Louise and have to constantly explain to folk Drs/dentists etc to call me Louise. Piggin nightmare if someone picks up a prescription for me and I’ve forgotten to tell them.
My eldest brother is Robert David,but has always been David,so my parents were serial offenders. In fairness dad was Robert Christopher but always Chris, grandad Robert William Christopher ,again Kit ( Chris), so something of a tradition , which I ended.

Not read past the first page tbh but just in case no-one else has mentioned it - you could use your maiden surname (assuming you use your husband's surname) or your mother's or grandmother's maiden surname? I know a few people who did this.

Agree ☝️ pick a name that you both like. Much easier. O

Karen is derived from Katherine. So you could call her that, or any other derivation … eg Catriona, Kaia, Katia, Kasia, Kitty…

The insults are ridiculous and say more about the bullies who use it to undermine people who dare to have an opinion. sod the silly people who use it negatively… they need to grow up.
Karen is ok as a middle name surely? I wouldn’t use it as a first name but middle is fine, particularly if she’s having two middle names. But you could just spell it differently. I have a friend who spells it ‘Karyn’ or you could even spell it ‘Caryn’.

Caron sounds the same but doesn’t have the same connotations. It’s quite nice with that spelling, feels different….
I know a Caron and example you might know of is Caron Keating

My name is Karen and I say to my mum that she called me the most common girl's name - there were 10 in my year at school - and now it's an insult? I wouldn't wish the name on a child. I work with a lot of 20 somethings ( agency staff) and as soon as I say my name I feel judged.

Or Karine?

Karen is a perfectly lovely name. (And no I'm not called Karen !😂)

My sister is called Karen my grandma always called her karena and at college she was known as carrie