Karen Oldham

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Karen Oldham — pure
1.0 million People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
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Karen Oldham 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 Oldham: Oldham is a surname meaning "'old lands" with origins tracing to the town of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. Andrew Loog Oldham (born 1944), British rock group manager Arthur Oldham (1926–2003), English chorusmaster, composer Charles Oldham, multiple people Chris Oldham (born 1968), American football player Denver Oldham (1936–2012), American pianist Derek Oldham (1887–1968), English singer and actor Greg Oldham (born 1947), American economist Henry Yule Oldham, (1862–1951), British geographer Hugh Oldham (1450–1519), English bishop Jawann Oldham (1957–2026), American basketball player. 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: Oldham

English

Oldham is a surname meaning "'old lands" with origins tracing to the town of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. Andrew Loog Oldham (born 1944), British rock group manager Arthur Oldham (1926–2003), English chorusmaster, composer Charles Oldham, multiple people Chris Oldham (born 1968), American football player Denver Oldham (1936–2012), American pianist Derek Oldham (1887–1968), English singer and actor Greg Oldham (born 1947), American economist Henry Yule Oldham, (1862–1951), British geographer Hugh Oldham (1450–1519), English bishop Jawann Oldham (1957–2026), American basketball player.

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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
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Notable People Named Karen Oldham

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 Oldham:

3
Expression Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

4
Soul Urge Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

8
Personality Number

Ambition and material success. Represents power, business acumen and the drive to achieve significant goals.

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 Oldham?
The surname Oldham originates from English. Oldham is a surname meaning "'old lands" with origins tracing to the town of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. Andrew Loog Oldham (born 1944), British rock group manager Arthur Oldham (1926–2003), English chorusmaster, composer Charles Oldham, multiple people Chris Oldham (born 1968), American football player Denver Oldham (1936–2012), American pianist Derek Oldham (1887–1968), English singer and actor Greg Oldham (born 1947), American economist Henry Yule Oldham, (1862–1951), British geographer Hugh Oldham (1450–1519), English bishop Jawann Oldham (1957–2026), American basketball player.
What are the origins of the name Karen Oldham?
The name Karen Oldham combines two different traditions: the first name Karen has Scandinavian roots, while the surname Oldham originates from English.
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