Namewise

Anne vs Karen

Anne 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 1972, Anne was ranked #91 and Karen #9 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1976, Anne was ranked #80 and Karen #10 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Karen #442 among girls in Norway.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2010, Anne was ranked #430 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2019, Anne was ranked #457 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Anne was ranked #1110 and Karen #2440 among girls in England and Wales.

Anne and Karen over time

Anne and Karen appear together in 5 published lists, across 210 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Anne in 2.

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.

Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Karen 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 1955, Karen moved ahead of Anne in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #11 and #13 the year before became #13 and #7.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Anne and Karen changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1110 and #2440.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anne and Karen averaged 33.6 places apart, ending at #80 and #10.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anne and Karen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #442.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.

List by list

  • Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 81 of those years, Karen in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Karen #57 in 1946.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Karen #442.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019

    Anne held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Karen in 37.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #4 in 1965, Karen #5 in 1977.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Anne #457, Karen #871.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anne held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Karen in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2011: Anne moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #1040 and #988; by 2011 that had become #1117 and #1374.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #1110, Karen #2440.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1952–1976

    Anne held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Karen in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #11 in 1954, Karen #1 in 1963.

    The order changed in 1955: Karen moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #11 and #13; by 1955 that had become #13 and #7.

    Most recent shared year, 1976: Anne #80, Karen #10.

  • New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1954–1972

    Anne held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Karen in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Anne #13 in 1954, Karen #1 in 1957.

    The order changed in 1955: Karen moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #13 and #14; by 1955 that had become #17 and #6.

    Most recent shared year, 1972: Anne #91, Karen #9.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Anne

Pairs where Anne shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Karen

Pairs where Karen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from New Zealand lists

Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New Zealand overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1970s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.

The 1970s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anne, Karen
FieldAnneKaren
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later.Not yet recorded
OriginHebrew, via French transmissionNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɑː.nə/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesAnn, Ane, AnnaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #159 (2025)Norway · Girls #442 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
  • Anne and Karen both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Anne; Karen doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Karen a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Anne

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #1 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1110 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Karen

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1986

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1963 (recorded 1952–1986).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls