Ken, the 1961 doll, gets full name Kenneth Sean Carson and a new independent identity in 2026.

In March 2026, the famous doll Ken—introduced by Mattel in 1961—will celebrate his 65th birthday and reveal his full name, Kenneth Sean Carson. Mattel declared a "new era" for the character, portraying Ken as a self-reliant person who is investigating life outside of his longstanding role as Barbie's boyfriend. After the release of a sensory-sensitive autistic Barbie created in collaboration with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, the updated doll, which will be available starting on April 14 at Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Mattel Creations, represents a larger effort to promote individuality and inclusivity. Although the character was initially named after Kenneth Handler, the real-life son of Mattel co-founders, Handler has stated that he does not identify with the character.