Given name & surname

Keren

“a wooden post”·“one who is pure; virginal”

Keren is a variant of Keran. One Armenian interpretation is “a wooden post.” Keren is a variant of Karen. In Greek use, Karen carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”

Meaning & origin

What it means

Keren is a variant of Keran. One Armenian interpretation is “a wooden post.” Keren is a variant of Karen. In Greek use, Karen carries the interpretation “one who is pure; virginal.”

Explained through its name family

Where it comes from

Keren is a variant of Keran. An origin associated with Keran is Armenian.

Explained through its name family

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1939. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Keren through the years

Babies since 1880
5,014
0 boys · 5,014 girls
Most popular year
2019
189 babies
2025
66
#2,632 for girls
2021–25 vs 2016–20
−35%
Cooling
05010015019401960198020002025Highest share 202041
Keren in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1939–2025, per million girls born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

Where it’s given

Most at home inMaryland, North Carolina, Florida
FewerMore, relative to births Not published
2025 births by state of birth. Tiles are equal-sized so small states stay visible. Highest rates: Maryland (6), North Carolina (6), Florida (8), Texas (9).

By the numbers

In 2025, this name appeared in 66 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,632 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 35.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 189 in 2019. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,666 as a first name in 2020; 308 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.

Keren’s family of names

Keren has a related form in Karen. Keren has a related form in Keran. In Hebrew usage, Keren is a Roman-alphabet rendering of קרן.

Walk Keren’s family in the name graph

KerenקרןΚερένKarenKeranKerrenKerenn

Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Nicknames & forms 4

Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.

Spellings & scripts 2

The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.

Appears in

Similar names

If you love Keren, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

Polynesian

Kali

“the dark one; in Hinduism, a destructive force” · “one who provides comfort”

65FamiliarSteady

3% boys · 97% girls

English · Mythological

Cora

“one who makes cord” · “of the heart”

75CommonEasing

>99% girls

 

Evelynn

“a birdlike woman” · “a birdlike man”

65FamiliarSteady

>99% girls

Hebrew · Biblical

Eden

“place of pleasure”

81CommonRising

21% boys · 79% girls

English · Nature

Wren

“resembling a small songbird”

70CommonRising fast

13% boys · 87% girls

Italian

Camilla

“a ceremonial attendant; a noble virgin”

63FamiliarEasing

>99% girls

Hawaiian

Kalani

“from the heavens”

63FamiliarRising

6% boys · 94% girls

American · Modern

Aspen

“from the aspen tree”

69FamiliarRising

13% boys · 87% girls

Sibling ideas

Names that share Keren’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Keren

A sister for Keren