Anna vs Karen
Anna 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Anna was ranked #10 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Anna was ranked #11 and Karen #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Anna was ranked #19 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Karen #442 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Anna was ranked #35 and Karen #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Karen #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Karen over time
Anna and Karen appear together in 6 published lists, across 238 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 6 of those lists, and Anna 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 1982, Anna moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #36 and #32 the year before became #38 and #41.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Karen changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #23 and #442.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Karen averaged 48.7 places apart, ending at #35 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Karen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1954 to 1986, ending at #35 and #98.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2019 they were #19 and #871.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 79 of those years, Karen in 2.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Karen #57 in 1946.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Karen #442.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Anna held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Karen in 31.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Anna #19, Karen #871.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1986
Anna held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Karen in 28.
Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Karen #1 in 1963.
The order changed in 1982: Anna moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #36 and #32; by 1982 that had become #38 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Anna #35, Karen #98.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1956–1986
Anna held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Karen in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Karen #1 in 1957.
The order changed in 1977: Anna moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #17 and #16; by 1977 that had become #10 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Anna #11, Karen #100.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Karen #4843.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Anna held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #10 in 2007, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Anna #10, 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 | Anna | Karen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A form of Hannah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' relating to grace. Appears in the New Testament as a prophetess who recognised Jesus as the Messiah. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anna has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Karen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Karen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Anna
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #38 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2021
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 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