When was Karen most popular?

The name Karen reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Karen Ma?

The name Karen Ma combines two different traditions: the first name Karen has Scandinavian roots, while the surname Ma originates from Vietnamese.

Karen Ma — 1.0 million & 28K bearers

Karen Ma is a name that combines Scandinavian origins. The first name Karen is a feminine given name of Scandinavian origin. Scandinavian form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine. Very popular in Scandinavia and in English-speaking countries from the 1950s. The surname Ma: Ma (simplified Chinese: 马; traditional Chinese: 馬; pinyin: Mǎ) is a Chinese family name. The surname literally means 'horse'. As of 2006, it ranks as the 14th most common Chinese surname in mainland China. In 2019 it was the 13th most common surname in mainland China. A 2013 study found it to be the 13th most common, shared by 17,200,000 people or 1.290% of the population, with the province with the most being Henan. It is the 52nd name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem. From He (surname) adopted name "Ma" (馬), the first word of the district Ma Fu, as their surname. Karen is one of the most widespread first names worldwide, carried by approximately 1.0 million people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Karen reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Karen

Meaning: pure

Scandinavian

Scandinavian form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine. Very popular in Scandinavia and in English-speaking countries from the 1950s.

Surname: Ma

Vietnamese

Ma (simplified Chinese: 马; traditional Chinese: 馬; pinyin: Mǎ) is a Chinese family name. The surname literally means 'horse'. As of 2006, it ranks as the 14th most common Chinese surname in mainland China. In 2019 it was the 13th most common surname in mainland China. A 2013 study found it to be the 13th most common, shared by 17,200,000 people or 1.290% of the population, with the province with the most being Henan. It is the 52nd name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem. From He (surname) adopted name "Ma" (馬), the first word of the district Ma Fu, as their surname.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Karen is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 46%

Sweden 14%

Norway 10%

Denmark 7%

United Kingdom 22%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Karen by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Karen Ma

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Karen Ma:

9

Expression Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

7

Soul Urge Number

Wisdom and introspection. A deep, analytical mind drawn to philosophy, spirituality and the search for truth.

2

Personality Number

Cooperation and sensitivity. A diplomatic, gentle nature with strong empathy, thriving in partnerships and harmony.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Karen?: The first name Karen originates from Scandinavian. Scandinavian form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine. Very popular in Scandinavia and in English-speaking countries from the 1950s.
When was Karen most popular?: The name Karen reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Ma?: The surname Ma originates from Vietnamese. Ma (simplified Chinese: 马; traditional Chinese: 馬; pinyin: Mǎ) is a Chinese family name. The surname literally means 'horse'. As of 2006, it ranks as the 14th most common Chinese surname in mainland China. In 2019 it was the 13th most common surname in mainland China. A 2013 study found it to be the 13th most common, shared by 17,200,000 people or 1.290% of the population, with the province with the most being Henan. It is the 52nd name on the Hundred Family Surnames poem. From He (surname) adopted name "Ma" (馬), the first word of the district Ma Fu, as their surname.
What are the origins of the name Karen Ma?: The name Karen Ma combines two different traditions: the first name Karen has Scandinavian roots, while the surname Ma originates from Vietnamese.