What is Ken Carson's middle name?

Ken Carson’s middle name is Sean.

Ken’s full fictional name is Kenneth Sean Carson Jr., making Sean his middle name. Mattel introduced Ken on March 11, 1961, as Barbie’s male counterpart, two years after Barbie’s debut. His surname, Carson, appeared in 1960s Random House books and became part of the character’s established identity.

Ken was named after Kenneth Handler, the son of Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler, who helped create Barbie. Barbie’s own name came from Barbara Handler, Ruth Handler’s daughter. Ken and Barbie are both associated with the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin, although their biographies and occupations have changed repeatedly over the decades.

The name “Ken Carson” is sometimes confused with the stage name of rapper Ken Carson, but the trivia question refers to Mattel’s doll character. Ken has held more than 40 occupations, including astronaut, doctor, pilot and beachgoer. His 2023 film portrayal by Ryan Gosling brought the character to a new mainstream audience, but it did not change his established middle name.