Gen Z Has Finally Decided On A Name For The Male ‘Karen’

After years of online debate, Gen Z has finally reached a verdict on what to call the male version of a “Karen,” a label that had long been almost exclusively associated with women.

In recent years, Gen Z has also moved away from the term “Karen” for women, replacing it with a new name that better fits the generation’s stereotype for rude, obnoxious, or disrespectful behavior. And according to Gen Z, men are no exception.

With a name now seemingly decided for the male counterpart, social media has lit up with amused and hilarious reactions, as users continue to debate and offer their own alternative picks.

Elderly woman in pink sweater angrily shouting into a vintage mobile phone, representing Gen Z male Karen concept.

Gen Z has officially decided on a name for the male version of the stereotypical rude, obnoxious, and disrespectful “Karen”

Image credits: stokkete/Adobe Stock (Not the actual photo)

For those unfamiliar with the term’s slang usage, “Karen” has been widely used for years after first gaining traction on social media around 2018.

It is typically used to describe middle-aged women who display entitled or confrontational behavior.

Common traits associated with the stereotype include being disrespectful toward retail and service workers and, at times, exhibiting racist behavior toward strangers.

Young woman with long hair laughing energetically indoors, representing Gen Z reactions to the male Karen name debate.

Image credits: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels (Not the actual photo)

Classic phrases linked to the trope include, “I want to speak to the manager,” “Do you know who I am?”, “You just lost a customer for life,” and “I’m a paying customer.”

Beyond behavioral traits, the stereotype has also been associated with certain physical characteristics, such as a short bob haircut, high-contrast blonde or platinum streaks, and oversized sunglasses.

Profile of a woman with short blonde hair and sunglasses, illustrating the concept of Gen Z male Karen name discussion.

Image credits: jayweingarten

As the millennial-era term “Karen” began to feel outdated to Gen Z, the generation reportedly chose the name “Jessica” as the new millennial counterpart to the once-viral meme.

Phrases now commonly associated with this moniker include “Thanks, Jessica” and “Not today, Jessica,” often used dismissively to call out similar entitled behavior.

The new male slang name was chosen based on a compilation of the most common male names associated with complaints on review site Trustpilot

Angry older man in suit expressing frustration, representing the male Karen stereotype known by Gen Z.

Image credits: Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock (Not the actual photo)

Now, according to data, Gen Z has settled on “David” as the brand-new male counterpart to “Karen.”

The name was selected after Trustpilot released a list of names that left the highest number of one-star reviews since the site launched in 2007, with “David” topping the chart among male reviewers.

Angry young man in a suit yelling at his phone representing male Karen concept from Gen Z perspective.

Image credits: kues1/Freepik (Not the actual photo)

The data also suggested that men complained more than women this year, with only one woman’s name, Sarah, appearing in the top 10 at the No. 7 spot.

The remaining nine names on the list belonged to men, with “David” emerging as the most frequently recurring.

Screenshot of a text message conversation mentioning names as part of Gen Z naming the male Karen discussion.

Screenshot of a comment by Marvin Emery praising the best male Karen name chosen by Gen Z with a laughing emoji.

However, social media users were quick to push back on the choice, offering their own alternatives ranging from “Darren,” a playful mashup of David and Karen, to “Richard,” “Steve,” and “Ray,” with some even jokingly opting for “Dick.”

One amused netizen quipped, “I’m a little confused; in this particular case, does the manager have to be a woman?”

“David” has emerged as Gen Z’s top pick for “Karen’s” male counterpart, beating out other frequently suggested names such as “Ken,” “Kevin,” and “Chad”

Two men in a heated discussion at a café, illustrating the concept of the male Karen debated by Gen Z.

Image credits: katemangostar/Freepik (Not the actual photo)

Another user joked, “What is hilarious is my boys are Darren and Dylan which are both in the list of suggestions….and I totally agree. I literally have 2 karens in my immediate family to contend with!!!!!”

A third added more bluntly, “Be a good person, stay in your lane – problem solved.”

Angry man shouting inside car, expressing frustration, illustrating the concept of a male Karen by Gen Z.

Image credits: didesign/Adobe Stock (Not the actual photo)

Coincidentally, just as the name Karen peaked in popularity in the mid-1960s, David was one of the most common male names of the same era, making it a direct generational counterpart to the original Gen X Karen stereotype.

David ranked as the second most popular male name of the 1960s overall and held the No. 1 spot in 1960, 1961, and 1963, before being overtaken by Michael for the remainder of the decade.

Comment saying we call them male Karens with a happy New Year greeting, referencing Gen Z naming the male Karen.

Comment from Tim Swearingen discussing the male Karen name and Gen Z's decision on its identity online.

In Gen Z discourse, the name David has also become associated with rigid, formal entitlement and a classic “I’d like to speak to your manager” attitude, traits long tied to the Karen stereotype.

Back in 2020, Dr. Apryl Williams, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan and a Fellow at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard, told Fatherly that names like Greg and Terry would occasionally surface in online attempts to find a male equivalent of “Karen.”

The name David also shares a coincidental connection with Karen, as both were among the most popular baby names during the 1960s

Man angrily holding a paper while arguing with a woman, illustrating a male Karen stereotype in a tense setting.

Image credits: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock (Not the actual photo)

At the time, however, the most popular pick was “Ken,” which sparked an entire “Kenaissance,” complete with viral “Ken and Karen” couple memes due to the similarity between the names.

However, following the release of Barbie in 2023, starring Ryan Gosling as Ken, the name’s cultural association shifted more toward the blockbuster film than the internet meme.

Young man with red hair showing anger in a pink shirt, representing the male Karen Gen Z has named.

Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels (Not the actual photo)

Other close contenders to “David” over the years have included Kevin, Chad, and Brad, with the latter two often associated with younger, wealthy, or frat-style entitlement, making them especially popular among Gen Z’s slang picks.

While some argue that “Karen” is a gender-neutral term that can apply to anyone exhibiting entitled behavior, it appears that “David” has taken the crown for now, at least until the internet crowns a new substitute.

“Choose a name that is less common. David is too common of a name,” wrote one disagreeing netizen

Comment by Robyn Marie Hart mentioning Kevin as the name Gen Z chose for the male Karen figure.

Comment by Kev Turnbull expressing nervousness when a male Karen name is discussed, highlighting Gen Z naming trends.

Comment from Breanne Renée discussing the origin of the male Karen name chosen by Gen Z for the meme.

Screenshot of a social media comment suggesting Darren as the male Karen name, related to Gen Z naming trends.

Comment about men named Darrel and the male Karen term in a social media message by Christina Sturiale.

Comment by Kenneth LeRoy Merritt suggesting Richard Cranium as a name for the male Karen, reflecting Gen Z naming trends.

Screenshot of a social media comment referencing Karen and the concept of the male Karen name by Gen Z.

Comment from Shay Hodgson discussing the name for the male Karen chosen by Gen Z in Australia.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing the male Karen name decided by Gen Z, mentioning the name Steve.

Comment from Lee Baker about choosing a less common name as Gen Z decides on a name for the male Karen.

Comment about Karen's style being taken from 90s skateboarding culture, referencing male Karen name from Gen Z.

Comment discussing the Gen Z male Karen name debate, mentioning "Chad" as the male equivalent of Karen.

Comment from Danielle Silva stating to be a good person and stay in your lane, reflecting Gen Z naming the male Karen.

Comment on social media discussing bullying, related to Gen Z deciding on a name for the male Karen.

Social media comment by Karen Cressy about stereotyping, relating to Gen Z naming the male Karen stereotype.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing Gen Z opinions on the male Karen name debate.

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