A certain popular millennial name is quickly becoming the latest punchline online, as social media users claim it carries all the disruptive, self-important vibe once reserved for the infamous ‘Karen’.
The internet is buzzing- but who exactly is in the firing line? We hate to break it to you if this is your name, but Jessica, it is not your lucky day!
The name Jessica, a staple of the late ’80s and ’90s, is now the subject of a viral TikTok trend portraying those who bear it as embodying everything from emotional chaos to passive-aggressive behavior.
@erindieheart #millennialsoftiktok #karen #fyp #yourpage #foryou #4yp #millennial #foryou ♬ original sound - Erin Dieheart
Comments under a viral TikTok created by Erin Dieheart on the matter range from I’ve never met a nice Jessica to There’s a difference between Jess, Jessi, and Jessica- and none of them are good, fueling a stereotype that the name has become a label for a certain type of millennial personality.
This backlash is particularly ironic because Jessica was once one of the most beloved names of its generation. Born in what some call the ‘Peak Jessica Era,’ looking at you, Jessica Simpson. Many millennials grew up surrounded by classmates sharing the same name, or hearing it in magazines, making it a cultural symbol of childhood.
The online mockery appears to come from within the millennial generation itself, not from older groups who originally coined the ‘Karen’ label. Rather than the overt, outspoken behavior associated with a ‘Karen,’ millennials often vent their frustrations through understated, indirect channels.
This might look like sending carefully worded texts that hint at annoyance, posting vague Instagram stories loaded with hidden meanings, or silently stewing over grievances without ever confronting them head-on.
Despite the jokes, many with the name Jessica have pushed back against the stigma. They argue that the name’s newfound reputation is unfair and oversimplified, just another scapegoat for broader frustrations millennials face about themselves and their generation.
Don't feel too bad if this is your name, though, because the criticism of ‘Jessica’ is part of a larger trend where various popular names like Amanda, Lauren, Samantha, and Emily are also getting their own typecast personas online- none very flattering!
However, like the name Karen, these people are as varied as anyone else. They can be the supportive friend hyping you up during a break-up, the one who calls over unexpectedly when you need a hug, and the one who listens and responds to your seven-minute voice messages.
So while the internet may be quick to label Jessica as the ‘next Karen,’ those who have the name remind us there’s much more beneath the surface than the viral stereotypes suggest.
