Brent vs Karl
Brent and Karlcompared 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 · Boys
In 1987, Brent was ranked #97 and Karl #55 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1974, Brent was ranked #91 and Karl #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2000, Brent was ranked #244 and Karl #136 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2022, Brent was ranked #3449 and Karl #1692 among boys in England and Wales.
Brent and Karl over time
Brent and Karl appear together in 2 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Karl held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Brent in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 1 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 1975, Karl moved ahead of Brent in New Zealand · Boys — #38 and #43 the year before became #38 and #35.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Brent and Karl averaged 27.7 places apart, ending at #97 and #55.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Brent #571 in 1998, Karl #110 in 1996.
List by list
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1962–1987
Brent held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Karl in 14.
Highest recorded here: Brent #22 in 1968, Karl #33 in 1973.
The order changed in 1975: Karl moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #38 and #43; by 1975 that had become #38 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Brent #97, Karl #55.
England and Wales · Boys24 shared years, 1996–2022
Brent held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karl in 24.
Highest recorded here: Brent #571 in 1998, Karl #110 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Brent #3449, Karl #1692.
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 Brent
Pairs where Brent shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Tony vs Brent
Tony and Brent changed places 13 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1987, ending at #58 and #97.
Tony · Brent · 34 shared years, 1954–1987 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Jason vs Brent
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Brent #22 in 1968.
Jason · Brent · 22 shared years, 1966–1987 · Peaked in the same years
- Matthew vs Brent
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Matthew #1 in 1984, Brent #72 in 1983.
Matthew · Brent · 16 shared years, 1974–1992 · Peaked in the same years
- Michael vs Brent
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Michael #1 in 1968, Brent #22 in 1968.
Michael · Brent · 34 shared years, 1954–1987 · Peaked in the same years
Side by side
| Field | Brent | Karl |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #3449 (2022) | Norway · Boys #179 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Brent and Karl both have 1 syllable.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, NZ.
How each name got here
Brent
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #67 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1987
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1954–1987).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2022
Most recently recorded at #3449 among boys in England and Wales, in 2022.
England and Wales · Boys
Karl
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #35 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1962–1994
Highest recorded position: #33 among boys in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1962–1994).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #179 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys