Karen

Karen is a Danish and Norwegian contracted form of Katherine, itself derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, whose root meaning is debated but commonly associated with the Greek word katharos, meaning pure. The name spread widely across English-speaking countries during the mid-twentieth century, becoming one of the most popular female names in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s. In recent decades it has acquired cultural notoriety as a slang term, though this usage is distinct from its long history as a given name. Related forms include Katherine, Katrina, Karin, and Katerina.