The name for America’s male “Karen” has been picked, and many people are upset.
The label “Karen” exploded in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and George Floyd protests.
It became shorthand for an entitled, demanding woman, often tied to viral memes.
That year, The Guardian even called it “the year of Karen.”
The stereotype often includes asking to speak to a manager or acting in a racist way.
Critics say the term is harmful and unfair.
Writers including Hadley Freeman and Jennifer Weiner argued it silences women.
Weiner wrote in The New York Times that fear of the label stopped her speaking up.
Others call the term sexist, ageist, and class-based rather than harmless humor.
The impact has been personal for women actually named Karen.
Many report bullying and mockery linked only to their name.
One study found 23 percent faced verbal threats, and seven percent reported physical assaults.
Baby name data also shows Karen has nearly disappeared from US birth records.
Now Gen Z has weighed in on naming equivalents.
A viral TikTok listed possible names for millennial “Karens,” including Ashley and Brittany.
Commenters quickly rallied around one choice above all others.
The most supported name in the comments was Jessica.
Data also points to men as bigger complainers.
In 2023, Trustpilot analyzed 213 million reviews.
People with traditionally male names left far more one-star ratings.
David topped the UK list, while John led complaints in the US.