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Gen Z Has Picked A New Name For The Millennial ‘Karen’ And People Aren’t Happy
Gen Z has just picked a new name for the millennial ‘Karen,’ and it may surprise you.
Fewer and fewer babies are being named Karen each year, and there’s a definitive reason why.
In the US, just 331 baby girls were named Karen in 2023, and it’s considered almost extinct – suggesting a near-zero count for 2024.
The nickname was first coined in 2020, and it’s been used ever since to describe the average middle-class woman, whose behavior usually stems from a place of privilege.
To paint a picture, here are some handy examples.
A ‘Karen’ might demand to speak to the manager at a restaurant, they might come up with wild anti-vaccination conspiracies, they may interfere in the private affairs of others, and they might also throw a fit or a tantrum in public when they don’t get their own way.
We’ve all met one – even if they’re not actually called Karen.
Although millennials coined the phrase, Gen Z has come up with a new nickname for them – and it’s safe to say they’re not thrilled about it.
But before that, who really does complain the most?
The biggest complainer
While ‘Karen’s’ are famously stereotyped as the world’s biggest complainers, a study of Tripadvisor reviews found that the title actually belongs to a man – and his name is David.
Results show that Davids were found to leave the most negative reviews out of everyone.
In fact, women aren’t even the most likely gender to complain or leave a negative review on the site.
Overall, men are actually 131% more likely to make an online complaint than women.
David clocked up the most amount of negative reviews, while Paul followed closely behind.
John, Mark, Chris, James, Michael, Andrew and Peter also follow, with Sarah, the first woman on the list, at number ten.
People react to the nickname ‘Karen’
Since the soaring popularity of the nickname, Karen’s everywhere have spoken out, and have made their feelings very clear.
Speaking to The Guardian, writer and podcaster Karen Geier said: “I spend a lot of time on Twitter, so I find it rather annoying.
“Anything you say, people can be like, ‘OK, well, whatever, KAREN’ – but that’s not even how the meme is supposed to be used.
“It’s supposed to be about people who want to speak to the manager.”
Others don’t seem to care, as one said: “I don’t mind the meme. It’s not me.”
But in a bold move, Gen Z have coined a new nickname for the millennial ‘Karen’s.’
One TikTok user spoke about the name in a clip that has since gone viral.
In a video that now has over 40k likes, she said: “Millennials, they are out here trying to decide what’s our generation’s name equivalent for a Karen.
“We will pick our own Karen.
“We know exactly who are the a holes of our generation.
“And here are the names that keep popping up.”
What’s the new ‘Karen’?
The TikToker user proceeded to reel off a list of names that were up for consideration, including Ashley, Brittany, Heather, Amber, Tiffany, Jessica, Nicole, Becky, or Kelsey.
And there was a resounding vote in the comments for one name in particular.
Though the Gen Z debate over the name began around the summer of last year, the joke is starting to land in people’s feeds.
The new nickname is predominantly in the US, where the name is arguably less likely to be shortened.
According to Gen Z, this particular character will speak to the manager when the rest of the group is too afraid, and while it might land you with a cheeky 10% off the bill, the whole group wants the ground to swallow them up.
The name in question? Jessica.
“I’ve never met a pleasant Jessica,” one user said on TikTok.
Another in the comments added: “Haven’t met one that doesn’t fit as a Karen.”
Meanwhile, Jessica’s in the comments were left rather offended.
“PLEASE!! I’m a good person,” one Jessica wrote.
Sorry Jessica, it’s your time in the spotlight.
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