Belinda vs Karen
Belinda 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, Belinda was ranked #30 and Karen #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1981, Belinda was ranked #96 and Karen #34 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Belinda was ranked #498 and Karen #69 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2013, Belinda was ranked #563 and Karen #136 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Belinda was ranked #3695 and Karen #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Belinda and Karen over time
Belinda and Karen appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Belinda in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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, Belinda moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #8 and #6 the year before became #6 and #9.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Belinda and Karen averaged 34.9 places apart, ending at #30 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Belinda and Karen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 30 years, from 1957 to 1986, ending at #30 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Belinda #571 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1960–2013
Belinda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 34.
Highest recorded here: Belinda #223 in 1976, Karen #81 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Belinda #563, Karen #136.
Republic of Ireland · Girls34 shared years, 1964–1998
Belinda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 34.
Highest recorded here: Belinda #179 in 1967, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Belinda #498, Karen #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1957–1986
Belinda held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Karen in 17.
Highest recorded here: Belinda #6 in 1974, Karen #1 in 1963.
The order changed in 1974: Belinda moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #8 and #6; by 1974 that had become #6 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Belinda #30, Karen #98.
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1996–2024
Belinda held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Karen in 24.
Highest recorded here: Belinda #571 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Belinda moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #4634 and #3192; by 2024 that had become #3695 and #4843.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Belinda #3695, Karen #4843.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1965–1981
Belinda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 14.
Highest recorded here: Belinda #40 in 1975, Karen #1 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Belinda #96, Karen #34.
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 | Belinda | 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 | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Belinda has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Karen.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Belinda
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #92 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1974 (recorded 1957–1992).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #442 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls