Move over, Karen — Gen Z has officially declared a new nickname for problematic middle-aged women: Jessica. Social media platforms including Reddit, TikTok, Instagram and X have been flooded with posts agreeing that Jessica is now the label for people who whine or throw public fits.
The trend has been building for years. In 2021, a TikTok user went viral after theorising which name would replace Karen, listing Jessica alongside Lisa and Jennifer. She concluded: 'I'm guessing it's going to be Jessica because I don't know, I feel like Jen seems nice. But Jessica will mess you up.' The video has resurfaced recently as users declare the prediction has come true.
Many women named Jessica have shared their reactions online, and they are not amused. Jess Blanc said in a video: 'I don't know whether to feel flattered or offended. Who was in charge of this voting system? I feel like Ashley should be a contender.' Another, Jessica Finn, added: 'I'm gonna put this to rest, it definitely isn't Jessica. Being a Jessica, we're minding our business, we're probably judging from afar but we're not going to get involved.'
According to the Social Security Administration, Jessica was the most common name for American girls born from 1985 to 1989 and again from 1993 to 1995. The original Karen meme rose to prominence in 2018, referring to stereotypical middle-class white women perceived as entitled or demanding.
In 2020, several women named Karen appeared on ITV's This Morning claiming discrimination due to their name. One, Karen Masters, said 'as Karens' they could not speak about the meme's impact for fear of being labelled entitled. Another admitted she was changing her name to avoid negative connotations and sometimes hid her name tag at work. Viewers, however, showed little sympathy.
