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Baby names

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

Original poster

Variation of Karen for a boy

269 replies

colourPink · 24/08/2023 20:17

I'm 35 weeks pregnant and my mum died unexpectedly 4 weeks ago. Her name was Karen and me and husband would LOVE to honour her as our babies middle name but he's a boy.

Does anyone have any ideas how we can make a more masculine version of Karen?

OP posts:
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Isthisasgoodasitis · 26/08/2023 18:25

kerin

MargaretThursday · 26/08/2023 18:23

KirstenBlest · 26/08/2023 18:22

@MargaretThursday , it's not.

Oops: Nerak I meant!

I'm not very good at spelling forward; I've just proved I'm worse at spelling backwards. I even checked twice before I posted. 🤣

Jamshedhead · 26/08/2023 18:23

Kyren or Kayren

Kizzi101 · 26/08/2023 18:22

Wren

KirstenBlest · 26/08/2023 18:22

@MargaretThursday , it's not.

northernbeee · 26/08/2023 18:21

I think having K as the middle name/initial would be lovely

KirstenBlest · 26/08/2023 18:21

@AllMyExesWearRolexes , there was a Saint Caron. There was also Caron Keating, who was a Blue Peter presenter.

MargaretThursday · 26/08/2023 18:18

Narak

Karen backwards.

Junemama20 · 26/08/2023 18:17

Corin?

Theproofofthepudding · 26/08/2023 18:15

Several have said that it is a male name in some parts of the world so I would use it. I don't think it sounds particularly girly

AllMyExesWearRolexes · 26/08/2023 18:13

When I used to play rugby, our coach was a Welshman called Caron.

BadHairBae · 26/08/2023 17:59

Kian
Kiran

Sorry for your loss 💐

Tortoisetowers · 26/08/2023 17:58

Ren
Renzo
Renato
Renno

But make sure you love whichever name you choose. This is said as someone who chose a name that they didn't love, but wanted to honor someone special. It was a middle name, but if I could go back, I wouldn't choose that name again. I would find a different way to honor that person.

Hjondf · 26/08/2023 17:52

Sorry for your loss OP. The name Kairen could be used and looks similar written down to Karen. It’s an Anglicised version of the Japanese name. ’Kai’ meaning water or the sea and ‘Ren’ meaning either love or water lotus. Pronounced Ky-ren.

Jimmyneutronsforehead · 26/08/2023 17:47

Kyran

Persipan · 26/08/2023 17:45

Corin. Or Wren.

scroogemcfuckaduck · 26/08/2023 17:43

Gary?

ISpyNoPlumPie · 26/08/2023 17:42

Cary, Wren/Ren, and Kit are lovely suggestions.

SometimesIHitPeopleWithMyCar · 26/08/2023 17:39

Aren

Ollybob · 26/08/2023 17:34

I know a Kamren and a Kamran both boys, maybe as a middle name though? He may not like being named after Karen.
Is there someone she really liked or admired such as an family member/friend/celebrity?

inonan · 26/08/2023 17:31

KirstenBlest · 24/08/2023 20:42

I've thought of one.
Karen -> Katherine -> Kitty -> Kit -> Christopher

Definitely bit of a reach

Jessbow · 26/08/2023 17:27

Kare? ( Cah- ee)
Anagram is a good idea though I like Kearn. or Krane?

ididntwanttodoit · 26/08/2023 15:04

I second the anagram idea - Kearn is rather nice!

KirstenBlest · 26/08/2023 14:56

A literary one: Karenin
(husband of Anna Karenina, for anyone who's not into long russian novels)

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