I hate to ask this, but......

[derah]

... is Karen a "chavvy" name? Please don't flame me for saying using the c-word either, I don't know how else to put the question!!!

We're not from the UK so it's hard for us to know if names are associated more with people from one class or another.

We want to call our daughter Karen (or Kerryn) as it's a popular Israeli name (DH is Israeli) but want a name that works in the UK too. My mum says it's a "hairdresser" name (please, no insult meant there either!!!) and along the lines of Chardonnay and Sharon!

I've known quite a few Karens in my time, from various classes/cultures, and all of them lovely people. But I don't want to give my child a name that she'll find embarassing!

I agree with your Mum, I'm afraid. It is a very, very common name (as in, lots of people bear it) but also does reflect a certain demographic - not many girls at boarding school or in the Pony Club called Karen. Not quite as downmarket as Sharon, but definitely not posh.

You may see this as a good thing, of course, just worth knowing that does come with certain associations. And it is rather old fashioned, was v. popular in the 60s and 70s, would imagine very few babies are being named Karen today.

I don't think that karen is a chavvy name at all!

I like it actually

I do agree with others in that its most certainly a 60's/70's name along with Julie/Debbie/Nicola/Michelle etc.

Agree with others. Not chavvy at all. Not been very common for a while. lots of Karens my age, but I'm 45. If you think about it, there were no William, Joe, Jack, Tom, harry, Daisy, Molly etc etc when I was at school (they were associated with my parents' and grandparents' era). So you could be a trend-setter!

i think Karen is very pretty not in the lease chavvy - the antithesis of- and sophisticated

That wouldn't be you ("your" for the pedants) letting a little of your true identity slip there, PaulaYatesBiggestFan?!

i dont think so ladette!!! am i?

My mums called Karen

I think its nice, if not a bit older.

Just thought you were perhaps called "Karen"

I like Karen a lot. You couldn't call (Danish Baroness) Karen von Blixen-Finecke who wrote "Out of Africa" a chav. I also have a lovely friend called Kerrin, her dad is Jewish as it happens, she is classy and has had no problems with her name.

no no no! Just like it!

Karen is definatley a lower class name. for people who word at asda

Names can be viewed entirely differently from one country to another.
For example, most people would agree that, in the UK, Kevin is regarded as a bit of a naff name but in France it's considered very upper middle class - it's also a very middle class and popular name in north America, on a par with how Thomas or Jack would be regarded here.
So it may well be that in other countries Karen is viewed differently. But in the UK it is considered a 'common' name.

iamthespeedingham

i beg to differ - Shannon Kaia etc but not karen

Oooh, the debate rages on!! We don't want an 'upper class' name at all either, just something safe and middle of the road.

Interesting how most people think Karen is old-fashioned but not unclassy, but some people agree with mum. How to know who's right? I guess all that really matters is today's perception, not how the name might have been viewed in the past.

I just worry if it's worth incurring the wrath of my mum if we do name the baby Karen.

Our two other options were Alexandra and Abigail, both of which I like a lot but DH has suddenly decided he's not so keen on them! [grrr]

Poor child is going to be without a name at this rate.....

Message withdrawn

Abigail would be Abbie. Not fond of Gail (though of course she can call herself what she likes!) and Alexandra would be Alex or Allie. Both names too long (and possibly posh) for daily use!

DH has gone off Karen now. I may have to kill him!!!