What is Ken's full name?

Ken's full name is Kenneth Sean Carson.

What was Kenneth Handler like?

Kenneth Handler described himself as a "real nerd" who enjoyed playing the piano and watching movies with subtitles, contrasting with the Ken doll's surfer image.

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Ken's Real Name & Nerdy Past Revealed!

Q: Who inspired the Ken doll's name?

Ken's name was inspired by Kenneth Handler, the son of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler.

26 Jan

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Summary

Ken's full name is Kenneth Sean Carson.
His name was inspired by Ruth Handler's son.
He was a piano-playing nerd, not a surfer.

As Barbie nears her boyfriend's 65th birthday on March 11, fans are uncovering surprising facts about Ken.

Ken's full name has been revealed as Kenneth Sean Carson. This moniker was inspired by Kenneth Handler, the son of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler.

While Barbie's name, Barbara Millicent Roberts, honored Ruth and Elliot's daughter Barbara, Ken's name was solely a tribute to Kenneth. The inspiration, however, did not extend to his personality.

Kenneth Handler, who passed away in 1994, once stated that the Ken doll represented "all these perfect American things" and was associated with the beach and surfing. He contrasted this with his own personality, admitting he was a "real nerd" who played piano and watched foreign films.