Deborah vs Karen
Deborah 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 1980, Deborah was ranked #86 and Karen #31 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Deborah was ranked #94 and Karen #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Deborah was ranked #351 and Karen #413 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Deborah was ranked #429 and Karen #442 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Deborah was ranked #551 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Deborah was ranked #708 and Karen #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Deborah and Karen over time
Deborah and Karen appear together in 6 published lists, across 181 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Deborah in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 of those lists, Deborah in 1. 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, Deborah moved ahead of Karen in New Zealand · Girls — #97 and #89 the year before became #94 and #99.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Deborah and Karen changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1952 and 1980, ending at #86 and #31.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Deborah and Karen averaged 21.7 places apart, ending at #86 and #31.
- Longest-running competitions
Deborah and Karen were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 31 years, from 1954 to 1985, ending at #94 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Deborah #302 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2019
Deborah held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Karen in 45.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #38 in 1981, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order changed in 2018: Deborah moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #873 and #471; by 2018 that had become #568 and #629.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Deborah #551, Karen #871.
New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1954–1985
Deborah held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Karen in 30.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1966, Karen #1 in 1957.
The order changed in 1985: Deborah moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #97 and #89; by 1985 that had become #94 and #99.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Deborah #94, Karen #99.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1952–1980
Deborah held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Karen in 25.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #3 in 1957, Karen #1 in 1963.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1980: Deborah #86, Karen #31.
Norway · Girls29 shared years, 1953–2025
Deborah held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Karen in 28.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #368 in 1957, Karen #67 in 1953.
The order changed in 2025: Deborah moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #453 and #428; by 2025 that had become #429 and #442.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Deborah #429, Karen #442.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Deborah held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #302 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Deborah #708, Karen #4843.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2007
Deborah held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Karen in 6.
Highest recorded here: Deborah #116 in 1997, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Deborah #351, Karen #413.
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 | Deborah | Karen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Hebrew, meaning 'bee'. In the biblical Book of Judges, Deborah was a prophetess who led the Israelites against Canaanite forces. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɛb.ə.ɹə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #429 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Deborah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Deborah has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Karen.
- A meaning is recorded for Deborah; Karen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Deborah
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #51 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1980
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1957 (recorded 1952–1980).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #429 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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