Given name & surname
Caren
“one who is pure; virginal”·“little darling”
In German use, Caren is a variant of Karen. In Greek use, Karen carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.” Caren is a variant of Carina. One Latin interpretation is “little darling.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Caren is a variant of Karen. In Greek use, Karen carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.” Caren is a variant of Carina. One Latin interpretation is “little darling.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Caren is a variant of Carina. A possible origin is Latin, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1925. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Caren through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 9,560
- 0 boys · 9,560 girls
- Most popular year
- 1957
- 387 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −100%
- Cooling
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 2019. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 387 in 1957. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 9,317 as a first name in 2020; 237 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Caren’s family of names
In German usage, Caren has a related form in Karen. In Swedish usage, Caren has a conventional equivalent in the Polish form Karina. Caren has a related form in Carina.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Caren has relatives in 5 languages.
4 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 4
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Caren
- Caren MetschuckEast German swimmerborn 1963
- Caren PistoriusSouth African actorborn 1990
- Caren Marsh Dollactress, dancer, last surviving actress from the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz"born 1919
- Caren Jungjohannfield hockey playerborn 1967
- Caren Kemnerformer American volleyball player and current coachborn 1965
- Caren Kayeactressborn 1951
- Caren LayGerman politicianborn 1972
- Caren MiosgaGerman journalist and television presenterborn 1969
- Caren GussoffAmerican writerborn 1973
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Caren, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Kathrine
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Cathy
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Maureen
Maureen is used as a given name and a surname. Maureen is connected with Mary.
>99% girls
Kathleen
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Doreen
“the golden one” · “a brooding woman”
>99% girls
Carmen
“a beautiful song”
5% boys · 95% girls
Kathy
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Kathlyn
>99% girls