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
- 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
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
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 | — | — | ||
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 1987
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Rhode Island#72 · 1 in 290
- Delaware#74 · 1 in 311
- New York#78 · 1 in 432
- Alaska#79 · 1 in 358
- New Jersey#80 · 1 in 396
Best ever in a state: #1 in Hawaii, 1957.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | #72 | 18 | 1 in 290 |
| Delaware | #74 | 11 | 1 in 311 |
| New York | #78 | 259 | 1 in 432 |
| Alaska | #79 | 10 | 1 in 358 |
| New Jersey | #80 | 110 | 1 in 396 |
| Alabama | #87 | 48 | 1 in 449 |
| Illinois | #95 | 141 | 1 in 515 |
| Nevada | #95 | 13 | 1 in 408 |
| South Carolina | #96 | 37 | 1 in 491 |
| North Carolina | #98 | 71 | 1 in 525 |
| California | #101 | 422 | 1 in 510 |
| Hawaii | #101 | 12 | 1 in 404 |
| Tennessee | #103 | 50 | 1 in 564 |
| Connecticut | #104 | 34 | 1 in 536 |
| Michigan | #104 | 102 | 1 in 568 |
| Wyoming | #106 | 5 | 1 in 402 |
| New Hampshire | #111 | 12 | 1 in 528 |
| Colorado | #113 | 35 | 1 in 600 |
| Indiana | #113 | 51 | 1 in 630 |
| Oregon | #115 | 26 | 1 in 589 |
| Wisconsin | #116 | 45 | 1 in 643 |
| Arkansas | #119 | 20 | 1 in 613 |
| Georgia | #120 | 60 | 1 in 653 |
| Pennsylvania | #121 | 110 | 1 in 629 |
| Florida | #122 | 98 | 1 in 708 |
| Maryland | #122 | 41 | 1 in 622 |
| Virginia | #122 | 51 | 1 in 681 |
| Maine | #123 | 12 | 1 in 516 |
| Missouri | #125 | 44 | 1 in 710 |
| Massachusetts | #126 | 50 | 1 in 718 |
| Utah | #126 | 22 | 1 in 609 |
| Vermont | #127 | 5 | 1 in 534 |
| Kentucky | #128 | 32 | 1 in 653 |
| Texas | #131 | 179 | 1 in 720 |
| Minnesota | #135 | 35 | 1 in 771 |
| New Mexico | #136 | 15 | 1 in 634 |
| West Virginia | #140 | 13 | 1 in 698 |
| District of Columbia | #141 | 10 | 1 in 570 |
| Arizona | #143 | 32 | 1 in 764 |
| Mississippi | #143 | 19 | 1 in 700 |
| Ohio | #144 | 82 | 1 in 826 |
| Montana | #147 | 6 | 1 in 638 |
| Nebraska | #150 | 12 | 1 in 769 |
| Washington | #156 | 32 | 1 in 850 |
| Oklahoma | #164 | 21 | 1 in 853 |
| Louisiana | #165 | 30 | 1 in 877 |
| Idaho | #171 | 7 | 1 in 741 |
| Iowa | #185 | 14 | 1 in 1,117 |
| Kansas | #257 | 10 | 1 in 1,421 |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
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
- 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)
- Debuted 1881
- Peaked 1965 at #3 (32,869 births)
- Births halved by 1971, 6 yrs later
- Top 10: 18 yrs · run 1951–1968
- Top 100: 49 yrs · run 1938–1986
- Top 1,000: 106 yrs · run 1928–2020
- 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
- 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 1987
Top girls' names in 1987
Top boys' names in 1987
More about 1987
girls
1,738,632 girls got a published name in 1987; 1 in 674 of them was named Karen, which outranked 99.2% of the 13,263 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,866,984 boys got a published name in 1987; 1 in 53,342 of them was named Karen, which outranked 77.6% of the 8,152 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 21.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #1,793Rishi36
- #1,793Shae36
- #1,793Zachry36
- #1,829Karen35
- #1,829Alicia35
- #1,829Antuan35
- #1,829Antwoine35
- #1,864Alexandra34
- #1,864Anselmo34
- #1,864Augustin34
Tied with 34 names at #1,829; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.