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Baby names

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

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Original poster

How long is Karen going to be unusable for

37 replies

bouquetofwine · 29/09/2024 15:04

I love the name Karen and hate the stupid Karen memes. Are people really that shallow that they can't see past the name? We're not pregnant yet, but we will be getting married next year and plan to start trying then. I really like names like Karen, Helen, Kay, Carrie, Katherine, Diana and Laura. I probably won't use Karen, but it's a shame that some people have given it a bad reputation.

OP posts:

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MelodyMalone · 29/09/2024 15:36

hillroad · 29/09/2024 15:17

well it’s just one of those things

it could last like “hooray Henry” or it could dwindle away

we just don’t know

People haven't stopped using the name Henry, though.

I actually really like the name Karen and hate how it's now got these connotations attached to it. I think it will die down, but it's hard to be sure, unfortunately.

ItsmynameKaren · 29/09/2024 15:35

FrancisSeaton · 29/09/2024 15:19

Baby Karen?

We were all babies once.

BiccysR4dunking · 29/09/2024 15:34

The same happened with Alexa shame really as that's also a nice name. I think the negative Karen memes etc will probably pass in a generation so maybe 20 years or so. I wouldn't want to inflict Karen on a child just yet because of that. a shame really as it's a good name. I have a family member named karen in her 50s and she now dislikes telling people her name because of it.

Newuser75 · 29/09/2024 15:33

I think it's risky to be honest.
How about carina?

Catandsquirrel · 29/09/2024 15:33

I think it's a starkly beautiful name and thought so before all the 'Karen's diner' crap started.

There are variants such as Karin or Caron. The use of it as an insult is quite problematic in itself (sexist, ageist, race specific) so I don't think will last. I don't know if anyone would want to be the one to reclaim it with their child for a while but it's a perfectly good name and personal names don't have to be used to make points about social issues.

HeyWaffle · 29/09/2024 15:32

It's just a variation like Lindsay and Lindsey though. Not a made up name that Mumsnet hates so much

HoppityBun · 29/09/2024 15:27

HeyWaffle · 29/09/2024 15:27

What about spelling it slightly differently. Carron like the river, or Caron like Caron Keating. Same name but not as obvious.

Then the poor child will spend her whole life correcting the spelling

HeyWaffle · 29/09/2024 15:27

What about spelling it slightly differently. Carron like the river, or Caron like Caron Keating. Same name but not as obvious.

evensonginautumn · 29/09/2024 15:26

You can use whatever name you like (obviously) but if you think that names like Winnie, Elsie, Margot, are really accelerating in popularity now and they are the names of at least a hundred and ten years ago ;my grandmother was a Winnie) it could be a good while!

You might have a great great granddaughter with the name.

Mandarinaduck · 29/09/2024 15:23

I like it too, one of my best friends is Karen and she is beautiful, classy and kind. The name itself is slightly austere and Nordic to my ears (in a good way). All of this said, I don’t know the answer to your question but I’d like to see a baby Karen and I think it will soon be time for those 1960s names to come back.