Craig vs Karl
Craig 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1974, Craig was ranked #14 and Karl #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1992, Craig was ranked #90 and Karl #89 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2015, Craig was ranked #415 and Karl #415 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Karl #516 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Karl #2088 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Karl over time
Craig and Karl appear together in 4 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Craig held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Karl 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Craig and Karl changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2023, ending at #516 and #516.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Craig and Karl averaged 31.4 places apart, ending at #90 and #89.
- Longest-running competitions
Craig and Karl were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 31 years, from 1962 to 1992, ending at #90 and #89.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Craig #81 in 1996, Karl #110 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys58 shared years, 1964–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Karl in 27.
Highest recorded here: Craig #39 in 1990, Karl #47 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Karl #516.
New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 1962–1992
Craig held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Karl in 2.
Highest recorded here: Craig #6 in 1971, Karl #33 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Craig #90, Karl #89.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Karl in 6.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Karl #110 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Karl moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1217 and #1316; by 2020 that had become #1492 and #1492.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Karl #2088.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2015
Craig held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Karl in 4.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Karl #93 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Craig #415, Karl #415.
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 | Craig | Karl |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Scottish surname derived from Gaelic 'creag', meaning 'crag, rocks, outcrop' — originally denoting someone who lived near a crag. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹeɪɡ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) | Norway · Boys #179 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Craig has a recorded origin (Scottish Gaelic (surname origin)); Karl does not have one recorded yet.
- Craig and Karl both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Craig; Karl doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Craig
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
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