Move over, Karen, because 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 filled with posts agreeing that Jessica is now the label for people who whine or throw a public fit.
The trend has been building for years. In 2021, a TikTok user went viral after theorising that Jessica would replace Karen, breaking down popular millennial names like Lisa and Jennifer. She stated: '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.'
Many women named Jessica have shared their thoughts online, with mixed reactions. One woman, Jess Blanc, said in a video: 'I don't know whether to feel flattered about this or offended. Who was in charge of this voting system?' Another, Jessica Finn, commented: 'I'm gonna put this to rest, it definitely isn't Jessica. Being a Jessica, we're minding our business.'
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 Karen meme first rose in popularity in 2018, referring to stereotypical middle-class white women perceived as entitled or demanding.
In 2020, women named Karen appeared on ITV's This Morning, claiming they had become victims of discrimination. One, Karen Masters, said they feared being labelled 'entitled', while another admitted to changing her name to avoid negative connotations. Viewers, however, were unsympathetic.
