Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Karena
GirlScandinavian, Latin· “variant of Karen or Carina”
- Meaning
- variant of Karen or Carina
- Origin
- Scandinavian, Latin
- Pronunciation
- kuh-REE-nuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #7,307
- US babies 2025
- 15
- Best rank
- #1,043 (1974)
- Peak year
- 1974
Meaning and origin of Karena
Karena is a Scandinavian and Latin name that is usually said to mean “variant of Karen or Carina”.
Karena is a variant of Karen or Carina. Karen is the Danish form of Katherine, whose meaning is uncertain, while Carina is the Latin for keel, and also the name of a constellation. Karena may also be linked to the Italian cara, dear. It is used in the US and in northern Europe. It is said kuh-REE-nuh, with the stress on the second syllable. Because of its different sources, its meaning can be chosen by the family. Among likely nicknames are Kari and Rena.
Popularity over time
Karena first appears in US Social Security records in 1946. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,043 in 1974, the same year it reached its highest count of 114 babies. In 2025, 15 babies were named Karena, and it ranked #7,307 nationally. That is 29% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #5,671 in 1950, #1,649 in 1980, #2,029 in 2000, #5,030 in 2010, and #7,307 in 2025. Of the 3,508 US girls named Karena since records began, 27% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 768 babies. Since 2010, 296 more have been named Karena.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Melony, Twana, Tamisha, Mirna, and Malisa.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Karena is usually pronounced kuh-REE-nuh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with K and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Karena
A few middle names that flow with Karena: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Karena
Similar names
Diana Girl
dy-AN-uh
“divine” · Latin
#244
Joanna Girl
joh-AN-uh
“God is gracious” · Latin
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Sabrina Girl
suh-BREE-nuh
“from the Latin name of the River Severn” · Latin
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Christina Girl
krihs-TEE-nuh
“follower of Christ” · Latin
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Karina Girl
kuh-REE-nuh
“dear; also a form of Karin” · Scandinavian
#750
Regina Girl
rih-JEE-nuh
“queen” · Latin
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Johanna Girl
joh-HA-nuh
“Yahweh is gracious” · German
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Marina Girl
muh-REE-nuh
“of the sea” · Latin
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Deanna Girl
dee-AN-uh
“variant of Diana” · English
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Carina Girl
kuh-REE-nuh
“dear one; also 'keel'” · Latin
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Selina Girl
suh-LEE-nuh
“uncertain; possibly moon” · Greek
#1,278
Celina Girl
suh-LEE-nuh
“uncertain; possibly heavenly” · Latin
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Lists that include Karena
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Karena mean?
Karena is a Scandinavian and Latin name that is usually said to mean “variant of Karen or Carina”.
What is the origin of the name Karena?
Karena has Scandinavian and Latin roots. Karena is a variant of Karen or Carina.
Is Karena a popular name?
Not especially. Karena ranked #7,307 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Karena a boy or girl name?
Karena is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Karena?
Karena is usually pronounced kuh-REE-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings