Ciara vs Karen
Ciara 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Ciara was ranked #49 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Ciara was ranked #57 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ciara was ranked #722 and Karen #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Ciara and Karen over time
Ciara and Karen appear together in 3 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Ciara held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Karen 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.
Karen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ciara 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 1985, Ciara moved ahead of Karen in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #13 and #9 the year before became #8 and #15.
- Longest-running competitions
Ciara and Karen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 56 years, from 1964 to 2019, ending at #49 and #871.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ciara #124 in 1998, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Ciara held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Karen in 21.
Highest recorded here: Ciara #2 in 1998, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order changed in 1985: Ciara moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #13 and #9; by 1985 that had become #8 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Ciara #49, Karen #871.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Ciara held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ciara #124 in 1998, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ciara #722, Karen #4843.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Ciara held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ciara #18 in 1997, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Ciara #57, 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 | Ciara | Karen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Feminine form of Ciar; traditionally interpreted as 'dark' or 'black', historically describing hair or complexion. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɪərə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #106 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ciara has a recorded origin (Irish); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Ciara and Karen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ciara; Karen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Ciara
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #146 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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