Karen is a female given name that typically originates in Scandinavia. It’s an adaptation of Katherine, meaning pure.
At present, the term is being used as a derogatory label for an age group of middle-aged white women who display rudeness, racism and enjoy complaining to store or restaurant managers.
Origin
Karen is a feminine version of the German and Danish shortened name Katherine, which reached its peak popularity in 1965 in the United States and remains one of the most common unisex names for women there.
It is a commonly used black name in the US, where it ranks as the second most popular female and third most common male name. Although often associated with racial slurs, some individuals who have had to flee their home countries due to various reasons may view this label positively.
Recent months have seen an online debate over the name Karen. Some are saying calling someone a “Karen” is sexist and some argue it’s simply a working-class name; however, others have criticized it as an offensive slur.
Another argument is that it’s a way for white women to exercise their racial privilege against people of colour. One infamous example is Amy Cooper, who called the police on a black man in Central Park after he asked her to put his dog on a leash.
It is not the first time someone has been labeled a “Karen,” and the phrase has become increasingly common in recent years. The label has become an insulting derogatory term for middle-aged white women who act rudely or with entitlement.
The exact origin of the name remains a mystery, though it could have been inspired by either 2004’s “Mean Girls” or U.S. comedian Dane Cook’s 2005 stand-up routine.
However, it’s essential to be aware that many of those using Karen as a slur aren’t actually Karen. Some are Asian, some black and some come from other parts of the world.
Karen has two counterparts: Becky and Chad. These words can also be used as slurs, though they’re not meant to be offensive.
Meaning
Karen’s first name carries with it a variety of social cues.
This name is a variation of Katherine, with roots in the Old World. In Scandinavia it is derived from “katharine,” while in France it signifies clarity or purity. Additionally, it appears as a variant of Keren in the Bible which translates to “flower”.
In the Middle East, it is closely connected to an ancient Iranian family — House of Karen (Caren) — which was one of seven aristocratic families of Parthian. Many princes from that lineage ruled what is now Iran.
Karen can be interpreted to mean anything from “pure” to “clear,” but it has also gained notoriety as a pejorative for people who display entitled behavior. The name has been used to describe white women who engage in racist or selfish activity, including one video depicting a woman calling the police on an African American man in Central Park.
It has become a commonly-used term to refer to someone with a negative attitude, usually in her mid-30s. She may sport an unattractive haircut, complain constantly and act like she deserves a refund when Burger King employees are trying to evacuate a burning building.
Many years ago, an online subreddit called r/F—YouKaren was created to ridicule this kind of behavior. Since then, its page has grown to have over 600,000 members.
Users on Reddit have noticed an apparent correlation between Karen, its popularity and people who engage in bad behavior. They cite several cases from recent years such as Soho Karen, Courtside Karen and Victoria’s Secret Karen as evidence for this assertion.
What makes Karen such an appealing target for this kind of behavior? According to Know Your Meme, a blog dedicated to viral humor, Karen originated as an acronym for the phrase “Caught on Video Arresting Someone Else.” It has since become a term of abuse for those caught acting in ways deemed unkind or inappropriate towards others.
Variations
Karen was a popular female given name that was among the top five most popular baby girl names from 1957-1966 and ranked #3 in 1965 according to Social Security data.
However, its popularity has seen a steady decrease in recent years due to negative connotations and stigma attached to it. Ultimately, eliminating this stigma will enable the name to regain popularity once more.
Karen is a popular slang term that describes an elderly white woman. Typically, this individual has children and drives around in a minivan.
Karen may carry with it some negative connotations of an elderly white woman, but there are also positive variations that can be used for your baby’s name. With these options, your little one will have a distinctive identity that sets her apart from all others!
If you want your little one to have a vibrant and exciting name, try giving them Karen. This name is associated with colors such as copper, yellow, and blue which are believed to bring good luck.
Another variation of the name is “Karen Page,” a character featured in the comic books and television series Daredevil. This character is an arrogant mother who lacks patience for her children’s misbehavior.
In December 2017, a subreddit dedicated to Karen the fictional character was created and quickly gained notoriety for its humorous memes depicting various types of “Karen-like” behaviors.
These viral videos featured “Central Park Karen”, who called the police on a Black man birdwatching in Manhattan’s Central Park, and “Costco Karen”, who refused to wear a face mask in order to protect herself against COVID-19.
Though these seemingly innocent acts may appear harmless, they are part of a larger pattern in which white women are driven to extremes of selfishness and racism. These viral Karens are frequently accused of abusing their privilege and retaliating against those who do not share their beliefs.
Popularity
Karen was a popular given name for girls during the 1960s, reaching its peak in 1965 when it was the third-most popular baby name. However, its popularity has since declined sharply.
Karen’s popularity as a given name has been declining steadily since the turn of the millennium, and it appears to be trending down. From its peak in 1965 to 831st place on Social Security Administration’s list of most popular baby names, Karen continues to lose ground.
This decline is largely attributable to the negative connotation associated with “Karen” on social media platforms. Karen has become a cultural shorthand for women who act entitled, usually white and slightly older than average.
Karen often feels entitled to certain privileges due to her position in society. This can manifest itself in various ways, such as asking to speak to a manager at work or making remarks about how someone else’s life is unfair when they’re stuck waiting for an elevator.
Karens can often be motivated by racism and other forms of bigotry, with some making headlines for crimes like calling police on a black bird watcher in Central Park or falsely accusing a teenage son of stealing someone else’s phone in a Manhattan hotel lobby.
Unfortunately, Karen often doesn’t fit the stereotype that has been associated with her name. For instance, it isn’t uncommon for someone named Karen to become the victim of sexual assault.
Recently, it’s been used to describe a type of woman who acts like they own the world and are entitled to everything. These types of individuals can be found in cities as well as small towns.
They often utilize their entitlement to get what they desire and receive it, sometimes by taking advantage of being white and middle aged to gain access to things and people others do not possess.
