If there’s one name that likely won’t be popular in kindergarten classes in the coming years, it’s Karen. According to a new report, the five-letter name has dramatically decreased in popularity ever since it became the focus of a meme.
NewsNation Now explains that Social Security Administration records show that Karen has gone from the 660th most popular name for baby girls in the U.S. in 2019 to 831st place by 2020. In parallel, fewer newborns have been given the name. While there were 439 Karens born in America in 2019, this number decreased to 325 the following year. This represents a decrease of almost 26%.
The decline of the name Karen is likely explained by its association with the meme of the same name. BBC explains the meme is a reference to stereotypical, middle-class white women who display entitled, demanding, and rude behavior. Karen has become shorthand for the type of person who demands to “speak to the manager.”
Urban Dictionary provides various examples of Karen-like behavior, including people who are anti-mask, harass service workers, and carelessly threaten lawsuits.
“Karen is a pejorative term used in the United States and other English-speaking countries for a woman perceived as entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is appropriate or necessary,” the site adds. “A common stereotype is that of a white woman who uses her privilege to demand her own way at the expense of others.”
Various Karens have made headlines in recent years for the controversial antics, including a white woman who called 911 on a Black Birdwatcher and falsely claimed he was threatening her life, News Nation Now notes. YouTube channels have popped up dedicated to showcasing footage of Karens (and their male counterparts, which have been dubbed Kens or Darens), such as Schrodinger’s Cat and Karens in the Wild.
Needless to say, with the bad reputation associated with the name Karen, it’s no wonder the name has seen a drastic decline in popularity. However, it’s not the only name to see a decrease in use. Annabella fell from 655th place in the U.S. to 852nd from 2019 to 2019, whereas Maleah fell from 687th to 869th in the same time period.
Karen means “pure” and has roots in Danish, Nameberry notes. It’s considered a variation of the English name Katherine, which comes from the Greek name Aikaterine. Karen first emerged as a girl’s name in the 1930s. It was the most popular in America in the 1960s when it took 3rd place; 1965 had the most Karens born with 33,000 babies, Complex reports, though it’s been steadily on the decease since then. And if its online reputation continues to precede it, Karen’s decline may endure into the future.
Sources: NewsNation Now, Urban Dictionary, Nameberry, Complex, BBC,