Karen
\ka.ʁɛn\♀French girl's name
A French girl's name of Ancient Greek origin.
At a glance
| Gender | Feminine |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ancient Greek |
| Pronunciation | \ka.ʁɛn\ |
| Also spelled | Kareen |
Origin and meaning
From Danish Karen, a vernacular form of Catherine that emerged in medieval Denmark. The term later acquired a distinct contemporary social meaning. Its association with a middle-aged woman is often attributed to the name’s relative popularity among baby boomer and Generation X cohorts. The term’s derogatory usage was subsequently popularized through African-American Vernacular English (AAVE).
Where it is mostly given
- Great Britain
- Ireland
- United States
- Malta
- France
- Belgium
- Netherlands
- East Frisia
- Germany
- Austria
Source: Wiktionnaire (CC BY-SA 4.0).