Angela vs Karen
Angela 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Angela was ranked #29 and Karen #100 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Angela was ranked #33 and Karen #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Angela was ranked #437 and Karen #358 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Angela was ranked #366 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Angela was ranked #551 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #1229 and Karen #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Angela and Karen over time
Angela and Karen appear together in 6 published lists, across 218 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Angela in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 4 of those lists, Angela in 1. 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 1978, Angela moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #17 and #12 the year before became #17 and #18.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Angela and Karen changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2019, ending at #551 and #871.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Karen averaged 34.6 places apart, ending at #33 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Karen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 31 years, from 1955 to 1986, ending at #33 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Angela #382 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1947–2022
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 61.
Highest recorded here: Angela #229 in 1959, Karen #68 in 1950.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Angela #437, Karen #358.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Angela held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Karen in 43.
Highest recorded here: Angela #21 in 1965, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Angela #551, Karen #871.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1986
Angela held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Karen in 18.
Highest recorded here: Angela #3 in 1975, Karen #1 in 1957.
The order changed in 1972: Angela moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #8 and #6; by 1972 that had become #6 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Angela #29, Karen #100.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1955–1986
Angela held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Karen in 22.
Highest recorded here: Angela #13 in 1974, Karen #1 in 1963.
The order changed in 1978: Angela moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #17 and #12; by 1978 that had become #17 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Angela #33, Karen #98.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Angela #382 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #1229, Karen #2440.
Northern Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1997–2010
Angela held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Karen in 6.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 2000, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order changed in 2010: Angela moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #413 and #413; by 2010 that had become #366 and #430.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Angela #366, 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 | Angela | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (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
- Angela 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
Angela
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #362 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls