Karen
#1,279 for girls in 2025, 175 births · Last seen for boys in 2023 at #12,239
Given to girls 99.7% of the time
Showing
- Peak · girls
- 1965 · 32,869 births
- Debut · girls
- 6 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 49 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 987,989since 1881
Karen over time
girls
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #1,279 | 175 | — | |
| 2024 | #1,250 | 186 | — | |
| 2023 | #1,089 | 226 | #12,239 | 5 |
| 2022 | #1,216 | 199 | — | |
| 2021 | #1,088 | 229 | — | |
| 2020 | #821 | 332 | #10,605 | 6 |
| 2019 | #662 | 440 | #10,803 | 6 |
| 2018 | #636 | 470 | — | |
| 2017 | #556 | 554 | #9,696 | 7 |
| 2016 | #508 | 617 | — | |
| 2015 | #505 | 627 | #12,086 | 5 |
| 2014 | #494 | 633 | — | |
| 2013 | #416 | 730 | — | |
| 2012 | #354 | 897 | #12,274 | 5 |
| 2011 | #287 | 1,104 | #9,600 | 7 |
| 2010 | #248 | 1,288 | #8,803 | 8 |
| 2009 | #231 | 1,433 | — | |
| 2008 | #187 | 1,816 | #12,553 | 5 |
| 2007 | #165 | 2,172 | #6,622 | 12 |
| 2006 | #173 | 2,031 | #6,904 | 11 |
| 2005 | #164 | 2,065 | #7,640 | 9 |
| 2004 | #155 | 2,168 | #6,138 | 12 |
| 2003 | #141 | 2,331 | #6,715 | 10 |
| 2002 | #150 | 2,225 | #9,392 | 6 |
| 2001 | #148 | 2,194 | #4,302 | 18 |
| 2000 | #153 | 2,174 | #3,922 | 20 |
| 1999 | #149 | 2,172 | #4,762 | 14 |
| 1998 | #152 | 2,073 | #8,479 | 6 |
| 1997 | #142 | 2,226 | #6,100 | 9 |
| 1996 | #133 | 2,401 | #4,022 | 16 |
| 1995 | #142 | 2,269 | #3,432 | 19 |
| 1994 | #128 | 2,487 | #3,751 | 17 |
| 1993 | #116 | 2,806 | #2,295 | 33 |
| 1992 | #121 | 2,765 | #2,747 | 25 |
| 1991 | #122 | 2,601 | #2,989 | 21 |
| 1990 | #120 | 2,716 | #3,309 | 18 |
| 1989 | #110 | 2,758 | #1,953 | 37 |
| 1988 | #111 | 2,567 | #2,765 | 20 |
| 1987 | #107 | 2,580 | #1,829 | 35 |
| 1986 | #100 | 2,801 | #2,360 | 23 |
| 1985 | #87 | 3,138 | #2,116 | 26 |
| 1984 | #82 | 3,536 | #1,933 | 28 |
| 1983 | #77 | 3,787 | #2,272 | 22 |
| 1982 | #68 | 4,153 | #1,815 | 31 |
| 1981 | #64 | 4,539 | #2,204 | 23 |
| 1980 | #54 | 5,055 | #2,003 | 27 |
| 1979 | #46 | 5,599 | #1,753 | 32 |
| 1978 | #39 | 6,371 | #2,134 | 22 |
| 1977 | #32 | 7,441 | #1,858 | 27 |
| 1976 | #31 | 7,505 | #1,502 | 36 |
| 1975 | #27 | 8,168 | #1,704 | 29 |
| 1974 | #26 | 8,643 | #1,439 | 36 |
| 1973 | #23 | 9,352 | #1,312 | 40 |
| 1972 | #21 | 11,181 | #1,163 | 49 |
| 1971 | #15 | 14,214 | #1,081 | 57 |
| 1970 | #12 | 16,699 | #1,192 | 48 |
| 1969 | #13 | 17,633 | #885 | 74 |
| 1968 | #9 | 19,560 | #1,057 | 49 |
| 1967 | #6 | 21,537 | #986 | 54 |
| 1966 | #5 | 25,450 | #901 | 64 |
| 1965 | #3 | 32,869 | #820 | 81 |
| 1964 | #4 | 30,243 | #788 | 91 |
| 1963 | #4 | 32,492 | #829 | 83 |
| 1962 | #4 | 35,184 | #879 | 75 |
| 1961 | #5 | 34,707 | #859 | 79 |
| 1960 | #4 | 36,378 | #892 | 72 |
| 1959 | #4 | 36,784 | #843 | 80 |
| 1958 | #4 | 38,487 | #936 | 66 |
| 1957 | #5 | 40,591 | #853 | 77 |
| 1956 | #7 | 40,052 | #880 | 72 |
| 1955 | #8 | 33,217 | #1,066 | 50 |
| 1954 | #8 | 32,456 | #1,020 | 54 |
| 1953 | #9 | 29,858 | #939 | 58 |
| 1952 | #8 | 28,956 | #1,227 | 36 |
| 1951 | #8 | 27,998 | #1,261 | 34 |
| 1950 | #12 | 24,132 | #1,203 | 36 |
| 1949 | #11 | 22,468 | #1,097 | 41 |
| 1948 | #12 | 21,996 | #1,194 | 36 |
| 1947 | #13 | 21,648 | #1,190 | 37 |
| 1946 | #15 | 19,647 | #1,111 | 39 |
| 1945 | #16 | 15,680 | #864 | 52 |
| 1944 | #16 | 15,944 | #906 | 49 |
| 1943 | #15 | 16,816 | #908 | 54 |
| 1942 | #16 | 15,387 | #795 | 65 |
| 1941 | #19 | 10,831 | #960 | 44 |
| 1940 | #34 | 7,283 | #1,067 | 37 |
| 1939 | #39 | 5,541 | #1,636 | 17 |
| 1938 | #50 | 4,508 | #1,476 | 21 |
| 1937 | #113 | 2,232 | #2,479 | 9 |
| 1936 | #132 | 1,718 | #1,964 | 13 |
| 1935 | #172 | 1,097 | #2,719 | 8 |
| 1934 | #258 | 588 | — | |
| 1933 | #283 | 453 | — | |
| 1932 | #367 | 303 | — | |
| 1931 | #535 | 152 | — | |
| 1930 | #689 | 100 | — | |
| 1929 | #798 | 78 | — | |
| 1928 | #816 | 78 | — | |
| 1927 | #1,010 | 57 | — | |
| 1926 | #952 | 62 | — | |
| 1925 | #1,089 | 49 | — | |
| 1924 | #999 | 58 | — | |
| 1923 | #1,101 | 48 | — | |
| 1922 | #1,078 | 50 | — | |
| 1921 | #1,184 | 42 | — | |
| 1920 | #1,171 | 42 | — | |
| 1919 | #1,527 | 27 | — | |
| 1918 | #960 | 56 | — | |
| 1917 | #1,026 | 47 | — | |
| 1916 | #1,087 | 42 | — | |
| 1915 | #1,140 | 36 | — | |
| 1914 | #1,023 | 34 | — | |
| 1913 | #1,766 | 12 | — | |
| 1912 | #960 | 28 | — | |
| 1911 | #1,450 | 11 | — | |
| 1910 | #1,421 | 11 | — | |
| 1909 | #1,219 | 12 | — | |
| 1908 | #1,135 | 13 | — | |
| 1907 | #1,037 | 14 | — | |
| 1906 | #917 | 16 | — | |
| 1905 | #1,162 | 11 | — | |
| 1904 | #1,092 | 11 | — | |
| 1903 | #1,318 | 8 | — | |
| 1902 | — | — | ||
| 1901 | #1,679 | 5 | — | |
| 1900 | #1,431 | 8 | — | |
| 1899 | #1,099 | 9 | — | |
| 1898 | #1,263 | 8 | — | |
| 1897 | #1,555 | 5 | — | |
| 1896 | #1,122 | 9 | — | |
| 1895 | — | — | ||
| 1894 | #950 | 11 | — | |
| 1893 | #1,175 | 7 | — | |
| 1892 | #958 | 10 | — | |
| 1891 | #1,213 | 6 | — | |
| 1890 | #727 | 14 | — | |
| 1889 | #839 | 10 | — | |
| 1888 | #1,276 | 5 | — | |
| 1887 | #788 | 9 | — | |
| 1886 | #778 | 9 | — | |
| 1885 | #695 | 10 | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | ||
| 1883 | — | — | ||
| 1882 | — | — | ||
| 1881 | #740 | 6 | — | |
| 1880 | — | — | ||
First appearance
1881
The first year at least five girls were named Karen! It came in at #740, and was given to 6 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 1882–1884, when fewer than 5 girls a year got the name.
Where Karen is popular in 1961
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · girls
- Maryland#2 · 1 in 42
- District of Columbia#2 · 1 in 44
- Michigan#2 · 1 in 46
- Ohio#3 · 1 in 49
- Missouri#3 · 1 in 49
Best ever in a state: #1 in Hawaii, 1957.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #2 | 299 | 1 in 44 |
| Maryland | #2 | 717 | 1 in 42 |
| Michigan | #2 | 1,869 | 1 in 46 |
| Alaska | #3 | 51 | 1 in 53 |
| California | #3 | 3,041 | 1 in 58 |
| Louisiana | #3 | 661 | 1 in 58 |
| Missouri | #3 | 901 | 1 in 49 |
| Ohio | #3 | 2,121 | 1 in 49 |
| Washington | #3 | 540 | 1 in 51 |
| Indiana | #4 | 941 | 1 in 53 |
| Montana | #4 | 111 | 1 in 58 |
| Nevada | #4 | 51 | 1 in 51 |
| New Hampshire | #4 | 140 | 1 in 40 |
| Oklahoma | #4 | 361 | 1 in 58 |
| Pennsylvania | #4 | 2,389 | 1 in 46 |
| Virginia | #4 | 785 | 1 in 51 |
| Arkansas | #5 | 299 | 1 in 58 |
| Colorado | #5 | 346 | 1 in 57 |
| Connecticut | #5 | 536 | 1 in 46 |
| Delaware | #5 | 122 | 1 in 38 |
| Illinois | #5 | 2,030 | 1 in 53 |
| Kentucky | #5 | 573 | 1 in 56 |
| Maine | #5 | 196 | 1 in 51 |
| New Jersey | #5 | 1,374 | 1 in 43 |
| New York | #5 | 3,172 | 1 in 53 |
| Massachusetts | #6 | 1,254 | 1 in 43 |
| Minnesota | #6 | 681 | 1 in 57 |
| North Dakota | #6 | 131 | 1 in 50 |
| Rhode Island | #6 | 213 | 1 in 39 |
| Arizona | #7 | 214 | 1 in 72 |
| Florida | #7 | 831 | 1 in 60 |
| Hawaii | #7 | 93 | 1 in 66 |
| Kansas | #7 | 336 | 1 in 60 |
| Oregon | #7 | 287 | 1 in 54 |
| Tennessee | #7 | 622 | 1 in 58 |
| Utah | #7 | 172 | 1 in 62 |
| Vermont | #7 | 71 | 1 in 49 |
| Wisconsin | #7 | 915 | 1 in 48 |
| Idaho | #8 | 103 | 1 in 61 |
| Nebraska | #8 | 261 | 1 in 57 |
| South Dakota | #8 | 114 | 1 in 62 |
| Texas | #8 | 1,570 | 1 in 71 |
| Iowa | #9 | 395 | 1 in 72 |
| North Carolina | #10 | 786 | 1 in 62 |
| West Virginia | #11 | 270 | 1 in 62 |
| New Mexico | #12 | 141 | 1 in 85 |
| Wyoming | #13 | 42 | 1 in 70 |
| Alabama | #15 | 453 | 1 in 76 |
| South Carolina | #15 | 359 | 1 in 72 |
| Georgia | #16 | 567 | 1 in 79 |
| Mississippi | #25 | 200 | 1 in 124 |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Karen
Momentum · girls
Falling
- 29 spots since 2024 (#1,250 → #1,279)
- 458 spots since 2020 (#821 → #1,279)
- 774 spots since 2015 (#505 → #1,279)
- Biggest jump: 490 spots in 1912 (#1,450 → #960)
- Biggest drop: 806 spots in 1913 (#960 → #1,766)
Rise & fade · girls
84 yrs to peak
- Debuted 1881
- Peaked 1965 at #3 (32,869 births)
- Births halved by 1971, 6 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 18 yrs
- Top 10: 18 yrs · run 1951–1968
- Top 100: 49 yrs · run 1938–1986
- Top 1,000: 106 yrs · run 1928–2020
Share of babies · girls
1 in 50
- Highest: 1 in 50 girls born in 1956 were named Karen (2.0%)
- Latest: 1 in 9,184 girls born in 2025 (0.01%)
- Its best rank, #3 in 1965, was only 1 in 54 (1.9%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1950s
- 33.7% of all girls named Karen (332,531) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 49 | #695 (1885) | #853 |
| 1890s | 79 | #727 (1890) | #1,118 |
| 1900s | 98 | #917 (1906) | #1,221 |
| 1910s | 304 | #960 (1918) | #1,236 |
| 1920s | 564 | #798 (1929) | #1,020 |
| 1930s | 16,692 | #39 (1939) | #264 |
| 1940s | 167,700 | #11 (1949) | #17 |
| 1950s | 332,531 | #4 (1958) | #7 |
| 1960s | 286,053 | #3 (1965) | #6 |
| 1970s | 95,173 | #12 (1970) | #27 |
| 1980s | 34,914 | #54 (1980) | #86 |
| 1990s | 24,516 | #116 (1993) | #133 |
| 2000s | 20,609 | #141 (2003) | #167 |
| 2010s | 7,360 | #248 (2010) | #467 |
| 2020s | 1,347 | #821 (2020) | #1,124 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Karen in 1961
girls
#5
34,707 births · 1 in 58 girls
boys
#859
79 births · 1 in 26,889 boys
Top girls' names in 1961
Top boys' names in 1961
More about 1961
girls
2,018,495 girls got a published name in 1961; 1 in 58 of them was named Karen, which outranked 99.9% of the 7,527 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 16.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Karen
Biggest movers since 1960
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
2,124,195 boys got a published name in 1961; 1 in 26,889 of them was named Karen, which outranked 81.6% of the 4,657 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 29.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).