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Help[Opinions] Karen
Well, this name has been decreasing in popularity lately. Is it still in use? Or has it been tainted by memes. What do you think of it?
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Alright, I’ll be honest here: I do like this name. In fact, I liked it as a young kid. I first heard it when I was very young and watching Frosty the Snowman. I mistook it for the word “caring” when I heard it. So, I immediately decided to call it “the name of love”. I liked its sound and look. As for the memes, they definitely affected this name’s usage. Before them, I didn’t know of many young Karen’s; only one who’s my age. It’s perceived as dated where I am to begin with. It was the ultimate 50s and 60s name. So, that could also deter the usuage as well. However, the memes probably worsened people’s view of the name. They’re so popular; even still, people are calling people “Karens”. It’s such a shame, in my opinion. Regardless of the memes, I still think that it could be used. It’s a beautiful name. If not Karen, Karina is a beautiful alternative. Carol could be another alternative.
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Karen is a nice enough name. It is the Jane of its generation - straightforward and unpretentious. Due to the memes, I would be a bit surprised to meet a baby Karen born in the last couple of years. It is still in use since there are plenty of older Karen women still living. In 20 years, I can see it becoming popular again when people want to honor a Grandma and meme is passé.
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I didn’t like this name before the meme. In middle school there was this snobby, rich, bossy, and mean girl named Karen. She hated me and my friends because we actually stood up to her and didn’t fear her. When I think of a Karen I think of her more than that meme.
I do like the Karin spelling. I prefer the CAR in pronunciation as opposed to CARE in. And I love Karina.
I do like the Karin spelling. I prefer the CAR in pronunciation as opposed to CARE in. And I love Karina.
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I don't think it's dated. I've met around 4 Karens and 2 Carens which all of them are still a child (one was my classmate).
I really liked the name especially the combination Karen-Lucille (not gonna lie I saw this combination from the Typhoon Karen-Lucille that takes place in 1956). I think I hate it a little bit now because I really associate Karen with the stupid meme (sorry Karens 🙏🏻).
I really liked the name especially the combination Karen-Lucille (not gonna lie I saw this combination from the Typhoon Karen-Lucille that takes place in 1956). I think I hate it a little bit now because I really associate Karen with the stupid meme (sorry Karens 🙏🏻).
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Karen is kind of dated and was going out of style before the slang phrase. I don’t see it coming back anytime soon.
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The meme kinda ticks me off, nothing wrong with the name at all, no reason to dump on it. Known two very nice people with the name. Dont know any new Karens and it's relatively rare anyway, hope people will still use it, it doesn't deserve to be a pariah name in the least.
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It's been decreasing in popularity for long before the Karen meme ever happened. It's like Susan or Sharon that way. But I don't think it will go completely away. A couple years ago I went to a middle school graduation and there were probably three Karens in the fairly small class, it seems to be far more popular among Hispanic girls.
It's a shame about the meme, but Karen is far too mainstream and, dare I say, generic? a name to ever be "ruined" by the meme.
It's a shame about the meme, but Karen is far too mainstream and, dare I say, generic? a name to ever be "ruined" by the meme.
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And the real messed up thing is Donald actually INCREASED on the charts by nearly 20 ranks. Still can't wrap my head around that. You would think it would continue to do the opposite.
I actually like Boris. A G.P name since I a young child, obsessed with Balto. Lol. But I can understand why people don't use it and why it's tarnished.
I actually like Boris. A G.P name since I a young child, obsessed with Balto. Lol. But I can understand why people don't use it and why it's tarnished.
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Donald is such a common grandpa and great-grandpa name that I'm not sure that it's use is entirely due to the ex-president. It is a bit how I don't suspect every British George and Charles to be named in honor of royalty. They are such common first names. I tend to associate presidents more with their surnames than their first names unless their first name is distinctive like Ruthford or Dwight. On the whole, presidents seem to have somewhat boring or unremarkable first names from the year they were born.
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I've never liked the standard American pronunciation, with a short a. KAHren has always been my choice, and I still like it a lot; also kaRIN, though not in English. I wouldn't expect anyone to use it now, though, anywhere in the world. Memes spread like Covid at its worst.
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I like it pronounced KAR in too. And the Karin spelling.
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Karen has sadly been tainted by memes.
It started as an "update" to the Miss Ann slang (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Ann), which makes sense as it seems to have been used primarily by White parents (whereas other so-called Boomer names enjoy use among many demographics) - at least, in my experience. That slang somehow morphed with the "I want to speak to the manager!" meme until it became the absolute behemoth that it is today. Which is a real shame, as just about all of the Karens I've met have actually been lovely people.
Thinking about how many naming resources I would've had access to if I'd been a mom in the 50s, 60s, or 70s... realistically, I could see myself having named a daughter Karen. Lisa and Donna would've also been in the running. No way would I use Karen today, though.
It started as an "update" to the Miss Ann slang (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Ann), which makes sense as it seems to have been used primarily by White parents (whereas other so-called Boomer names enjoy use among many demographics) - at least, in my experience. That slang somehow morphed with the "I want to speak to the manager!" meme until it became the absolute behemoth that it is today. Which is a real shame, as just about all of the Karens I've met have actually been lovely people.
Thinking about how many naming resources I would've had access to if I'd been a mom in the 50s, 60s, or 70s... realistically, I could see myself having named a daughter Karen. Lisa and Donna would've also been in the running. No way would I use Karen today, though.
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To be 100% honest, I wasn’t a fan of this name even before the memes came out. I can’t say it’s ugly, because it’s actually a pretty sounding name. But it’s very dated and it got into the position it was for a reason - a lot of middle aged women have it. Unsurprisingly, this is why it is what it is.
I do feel bad for the Karen’s though, this isn’t a bad name.
I do feel bad for the Karen’s though, this isn’t a bad name.
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Where I live, it's been decreasing in popularity for decades. I don't think the memes and the "Karen" idea can be blamed for its decline.
Before the rise of the "Karen" idea, I thought it sounded extremely dated. Now it's sounds dated and is tainted by memes and the "Karen" stereotype.
I can't envision any resurgence in popularity any time soon.
Before the rise of the "Karen" idea, I thought it sounded extremely dated. Now it's sounds dated and is tainted by memes and the "Karen" stereotype.
I can't envision any resurgence in popularity any time soon.
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You hit the nail right on the head. The meme certainly didn't help the name, but it was dated to begin with. It was "phasing" out, so to speak, and the meme just gave it a great big shove down the hill. I can never imagine anyone naming their kids Karen even if the meme didn't exist.
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