Total births
147
Unisex name · since 1940
Karlen
Karlen has 147 recorded births since 1940 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1992 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 147
- total births
- 1940–2015
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
147 girls have been named Karlen since 1940, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Karlen recorded 147 times among girls since 1940, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1950s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1940 to 2015.
- 147 total births
- 1940–2015 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 22% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
147 girls have been named Karlen since 1940, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 2015.
- 147
- total births
- 1940–2015
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 22%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Karlen was born in this single decade.
1992
Single peak year
10 babies were named Karlen in 1992 - its busiest year on record.
Karlen's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Karlen's SSA record in two at 1976 and the more recent half accounts for 49% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 51%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1940, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1992 peak of 10, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Karlen at a glance
Last recorded 2015Peak year
1992
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1940
Karlen popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1940–2015
- Peak year (1992)
- 10
- Annual births at peak, across 76 years of records
Karlen popularity over time - boys
16 total births recorded since 1991 (Karlen as boys' name)
Karlen by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Karlen's strongest decade.
32 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Karlen births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s
1940s
17 births
- 1950s
1950s
32 births
- 1960s
1960s
20 births
- 1970s 12
1970s
12 births
- 1980s
1980s
15 births
- 1990s
1990s
23 births
- 2000s
2000s
23 births
- 2010s 5
2010s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 32 births (22% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Karlen? ▼
Karlen has been given to 147 babies in the U.S. since 1940, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2015. 10 babies were born in 1992, its single highest year.
When was Karlen most popular? ▼
Karlen was most popular in the 1950s decade with 32 total births. The single peak year was 1992.
Is Karlen a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Karlen is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 147 births, and as a boy's name it has 16 births.
How long has the name Karlen been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Karlen since 1940 -- 76 years through the most recent 2015 data.
What names are similar to Karlen? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Karen, Kara, Karla, Karina, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Karlen's data
- Karlen's decade-level peak was the 1950s (32 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Karlen
Nearby Names Like Karlen
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Karlen
Karen Girl
#1251 987,989 births
Kara Girl
#990 101,743 births
Karla Girl
#733 91,586 births
Karina Girl
#772 61,464 births
Kari Girl
#1843 59,696 births
Compare Karlen side by side: Karlen vs Karen Karlen vs Kara Karlen vs Karla
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1940–2015 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Karlen: Baby Name Since 1940 - 147 Births, Peak 1992." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/karlen. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Karlen draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.