How long is Karen going to be unusable for

[bouquetofwine]

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.

well it’s just one of those things

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

we just don’t know

Baby Karen?

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

We were all babies once.

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.

Kerensa/Carenza?
I worked with a Caryn (female) once who shortened it to Carrie.

been around for many many many many years longer than Karen

How about Caroline? Biased as it's my DD's name 😄

I love that name, and Callie.

I hate the name, but not because of the connotations. Just because I think it's like the female version of "Gary" or "Nigel"... dated and not really suitable for a child in this day and age.

Some classic names age well. Karen isn't one of them.

karen in her 50s and she now dislikes telling people her name because of it.

I don’t give it a second thought tbh, I’m also 50’s. It really doesn’t cross my mind to think of the memes from one day to the next. Although I hated my name as a teen, I don’t have any feelings either way about it now.

Mate, one to forget about I'm afraid. It'll be a generational thing now.

Forever

How about Kerin? From the bible I recall.

Im guessing that stupid meme will hang around for another 5/10 years or so until it either becomes considered too dated or so offensive that the younger generations will be too embarrassed to say it. But unfortunately everyone will still remember for quite a few years longer.

Stick with classic (if less popular now) Katherine and use the diminutive Karen if you must -that way she can always change it if it bothers her.

Kerensa is also a pretty option too (although people might assume some Cornish links) - and pp’s suggestion of Caroline is a great shout. Caroline is out of favour currently except in the over 40’s just like your other picks, but still sounds very classic rather than dated imo. Plus Caro is a very cool nn, although there’s lots of choice (including both Carrie and Caron).

It's my mother's name so we used it as a middle name for my daughter. She was so touched but then said, "Are you sure with all it now represents? I hate my name now."

As well as honouring my lovely mum, I saw it as a small 🖕 to the misogyny and ageism of the term.

It was me that said Caroline - it's my DD's name, and I agree, classic without being dated, yet currently rarely used (not even in the most recent top 1000 names!).

She's 17 now and loves her name.

Awful isn’t it? It’s a lovely name, but I wouldn’t use it at the moment. One thing - please PLEASE don’t use it with a different spelling - Caron etc just sound so naff, not the same vibe at all!

I agree with PP that Caroline is a fab alternative, Caro for short is lovely and has something of the Agatha Christie stylish tweed skirt about it. Also like Kerensa/Carenza.

Czarina is also great if you fancy going a bit more crazy!