Amanda vs Karen
Amanda and Karencompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Amanda was ranked #4 and Karen #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Amanda was ranked #5 and Karen #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amanda was ranked #52 and Karen #442 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Amanda was ranked #258 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Amanda was ranked #313 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Amanda was ranked #1036 and Karen #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Amanda and Karen over time
Amanda and Karen appear together in 6 published lists, across 203 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Amanda in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Karen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Amanda in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1974, Amanda moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #9 and #6 the year before became #8 and #9.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amanda and Karen changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2019, ending at #313 and #871.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amanda and Karen averaged 34.5 places apart, ending at #4 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Amanda and Karen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1954 to 1986, ending at #4 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Amanda #170 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Amanda held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Karen in 37.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #15 in 1986, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order changed in 2018: Amanda moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #471 and #471; by 2018 that had become #436 and #629.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Amanda #313, Karen #871.
Norway · Girls51 shared years, 1971–2025
Amanda held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Karen in 17.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #26 in 2016, Karen #72 in 1997.
The order changed in 1993: Amanda moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #93 and #92; by 1993 that had become #87 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #52, Karen #442.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1986
Amanda held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Karen in 20.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #2 in 1980, Karen #1 in 1963.
The order changed in 1974: Amanda moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #9 and #6; by 1974 that had become #8 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Amanda #4, Karen #98.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Amanda held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #170 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Amanda #1036, Karen #4843.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1961–1986
Amanda held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Karen in 13.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #4 in 1985, Karen #1 in 1964.
The order changed in 1974: Amanda moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #14 and #10; by 1974 that had become #11 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Amanda #5, Karen #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2010
Amanda held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Karen in 6.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #164 in 1998, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order changed in 2008: Amanda moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #413 and #413; by 2008 that had become #311 and #439.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Amanda #258, Karen #430.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Amanda | Karen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #52 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Amanda has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Karen.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Amanda
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1980 (recorded 1954–1999).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Karen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #70 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1963 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #442 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls