Ciara vs Karen
Ciara and Karen compared 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 2025, Ciara was ranked #894 and Karen #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Ciara and Karen over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Ciara and Karen over time
Ciara and Karen appear together in 3 published lists, across 96 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Ciara held the stronger position in 29 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, 2025: Ciara #894, Karen #2440.
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.
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 Ciara
Pairs where Ciara shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ciara vs Gemma
In 1964 they stood at #146 and #149 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #106 and #718.
Ciara · Gemma · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ciara vs Abigail
Over 54 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Abigail rose about as far as Ciara fell — from #68 and #303 in 1969 to #106 and #115 in 2025.
Ciara · Abigail · 54 shared years, 1969–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ciara vs Saoirse
Over 52 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Saoirse rose about as far as Ciara fell — from #63 and #417 in 1971 to #106 and #17 in 2025.
Ciara · Saoirse · 52 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ciara vs Erin
Over 50 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Erin rose about as far as Ciara fell — from #49 and #503 in 1975 to #106 and #71 in 2025.
Ciara · Erin · 50 shared years, 1975–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Karen
Pairs where Karen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Karen vs Anna
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #34 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #19.
Karen · Anna · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #59.
Karen · Julia · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Maria
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #33 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #63.
Karen · Maria · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Christina
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #40 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #325.
Karen · Christina · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
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 | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #106 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| 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 #894 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls