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

[Mapricot]

We finally agreed on a name for our future daughter. We let go of the parents/relatives names. And I am happy about it. His name's girl version is beautiful but mine is awful. I don't even tell people, I use my middle name.

I was thinking maybe we could use an alternative. Do you know any name that sounds like Karen ? I was thinking of Kerry. But I'd love to hear about more options.

What's wrong with Karen

OP doesn’t like it.

Your husband should not insist!

However as a fellow Karen myself, names my friends have used throughout the years (before the whole Karen thing, I’m not sure why I also inherited these names!) are Karina, Kari and Kara (I’ve also some unsavoury ones which shouldn’t be bestowed upon a newborn!).

Although really just use a middle name if you don’t like your name!

I reckon this is a troll thread tbh... the OP knew this would get people going and has now disappeared!

Honestly Karen is a beautiful name. It means pure and it's a really lovely name. Every single Karen I've ever met has genuinely been kind, sweet and considerate.
It is frankly appalling that the name gets dragged through the mud the way it does and that people are so comfortable using it in the way they do. It's vile and speaks volumes about the people who use it.
It's a way to minimise speaking out, a way to silence women, a way to ridicule people, it's bullying and it's nasty.
I would say use the name Karen and be part of the change in how the name is used. Karens are wonderful! Don't let internet bullies wear it down, it's the same as snowflake, it'll be over soon. Xx

My oldest friend is called Karen and she's the kindest person I know. When I hear the name I only think of her, not the other ridiculous association. Reclaim the name!

I like Karina and Carrie.

How about Karis? I met one once and I thought it was lovely 😊

There's no real need for middle names and they never get used anyway .

Actually... I publish in science. If you have a dead ordinary name, like Linda Johnson... there are A LOT of people with your name doing science. If you want to be distinct, make it Linda J Johnson. But then J is a very common middle initial. Then you become Linda Jezmunda Johnson. Just so people can quickly & easily know it's you doing mitochondrial DNA not that other Linda J. Johnson studying mDNA. Because in a global growing population & scientific workforce, there really will be 2 of you studying mDNA.

Orcid IDs are supposed to give us unique IDs, so those 2 LJJs don't get confused. But people forget their own Orcid IDs, or someone else doesn't know to use Orcid to distinguish the 2 of you. Ditto on Facebook or LinkedIn, you would like to be the obvious LJJ not the other LJJ.

I have 2 junior colleagues wrestling with this problem. One has decided firmly on being Linda J. Johnson, the other has published as L Jezmunda Johnson.

Anyway, middle names can matter ... a lot.
Karen is a nice name but if OP instead wants something Karen like... What about Corinne? Or just make something up. Or brush your husband off. Valid responses, all of them.

I love this. Agree, everyone named Karen who I've ever met has been totally lovely!
It's awful how the name has been skewed and made it a stigma for people named Karen to say their own name. Even worse if any of them ever need complain about something. It's horrible. Plenty words to describe nasty people and no need to wreck a perfectly lovely name for it.
I have so many friends called Karen who all use different versions of their own name now because of the memes and online bullying.

But if child had no middle name they feeel deprived later on. I know I did

Ciaran pronounced Key ahh ran
( my neighbour)

@mastertomsmum yes I get what you mean!
I wouldn't say deprived is quite the right word but I certainly felt a bit miffed at not having a middle name.
I use my confirmation name as my middle name sometimes, that makes up for it for me. I remember my mum telling me she didn't give me a middle name since she never liked hers so this way I could choose my own, which is sweet really but felt like too much pressure at the time.

What about a different spelling - Caron.

Karina is my middle name and I like it

Corinne

or Ciaran is lovely

What about Corrine (pronounced Kor-in)? I think there are a few variations of spellings for it. Sounds similar enough to Karen without actually being Karen.

Caren
Caryn
Karan
Karon
Karyn
Kerin
Kerryn

I think it's sad too. People create a misogynistic slur and make a whole load of women hate their name.

Darren? 😊

Ahhh there are nice Karens too!

we used Carina as a middle name. It means little darling so is super cute!

Cariad - Welsh for love.

Wren. Much nicer and more modern than Karen.