Karen in Irish: Caireann
The Irish form of Karen is Caireann, a girl's name meaning “little beloved.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Caireann
- Meaning
- Little beloved
- Gender
- Girl
- Also spelled
- Cairenn, Ciaran
How do you say Karen in Irish?
Karen in Irish is Caireann, pronounced CARE-in. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Cairenn and Ciaran.
What does Caireann mean?
Caireann means “little beloved.” Karen is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Caireann: its meaning, origin and stories
How popular is Karen in Ireland?
Karen wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2019, when 3 baby girls got the name. It was most popular in 1977, when 570 baby girls were named Karen, No. 5 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 165 baby girls were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 | No. 871 |
| 2018 | 5 | No. 629 |
| 2017 | 8 | No. 471 |
| 2016 | 4 | No. 750 |
| 2015 | 12 | No. 378 |
| 2014 | 5 | No. 661 |
| 2013 | 5 | No. 660 |
| 2012 | 8 | No. 510 |
| 2011 | 9 | No. 465 |
| 2010 | 9 | No. 475 |
| 2009 | 13 | No. 358 |
| 2008 | 17 | No. 291 |
| 2007 | 21 | No. 233 |
| 2006 | 12 | No. 325 |
| 2005 | 13 | No. 277 |
| 2004 | 24 | No. 174 |
| 2003 | 35 | No. 132 |
| 2002 | 22 | No. 176 |
| 2001 | 42 | No. 116 |
| 2000 | 54 | No. 82 |
| 1999 | 49 | No. 87 |
| 1998 | 53 | No. 69 |
| 1997 | 93 | No. 61 |
| 1996 | 86 | No. 61 |
| 1995 | 133 | No. 43 |
| 1994 | 144 | No. 40 |
| 1993 | 179 | No. 32 |
| 1992 | 210 | No. 25 |
| 1991 | 250 | No. 21 |
| 1990 | 261 | No. 19 |
| 1989 | 280 | No. 19 |
| 1988 | 309 | No. 18 |
| 1987 | 316 | No. 22 |
| 1986 | 335 | No. 19 |
| 1985 | 381 | No. 15 |
| 1984 | 461 | No. 9 |
| 1983 | 513 | No. 9 |
| 1982 | 461 | No. 16 |
| 1981 | 530 | No. 9 |
| 1980 | 549 | No. 10 |
| 1979 | 494 | No. 9 |
| 1978 | 482 | No. 9 |
| 1977 | 570 | No. 5 |
| 1976 | 514 | No. 7 |
| 1975 | 435 | No. 14 |
| 1974 | 461 | No. 12 |
| 1973 | 425 | No. 14 |
| 1972 | 394 | No. 14 |
| 1971 | 354 | No. 16 |
| 1970 | 357 | No. 16 |
| 1969 | 367 | No. 16 |
| 1968 | 289 | No. 20 |
| 1967 | 255 | No. 28 |
| 1966 | 276 | No. 27 |
| 1965 | 289 | No. 28 |
| 1964 | 165 | No. 41 |
Caireann in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Caireann, letter by letter.
- CColl, hazel
- AAilm, pine
- IIodhadh, yew
- RRuis, elder
- EEadhadh, aspen
- AAilm, pine
- NNion, ash
- NNion, ash
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Karen
Questions about Karen
- What is Karen in Irish?
- The Irish form of Karen is Caireann, pronounced CARE-in. Caireann means “little beloved.”
- How do you pronounce Caireann?
- Caireann is pronounced CARE-in. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Karen a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Karen is a girl's name.