Eilis vs Karen
Eilis 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Eilis was ranked #430 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Eilis was ranked #651 and Karen #471 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2022, Eilis was ranked #3970 and Karen #4645 among girls in England and Wales.
Eilis and Karen over time
Eilis and Karen appear together in 3 published lists, across 84 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Eilis 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 Eilis 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Eilis and Karen changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2017, ending at #651 and #471.
- Longest-running competitions
Eilis and Karen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1964 to 2017, ending at #651 and #471.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Eilis #1031 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1964–2017
Eilis held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Karen in 47.
Highest recorded here: Eilis #164 in 1987, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Eilis #651, Karen #471.
England and Wales · Girls20 shared years, 1996–2022
Eilis held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Karen in 19.
Highest recorded here: Eilis #1031 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Eilis moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #4535 and #1773; by 2022 that had become #3970 and #4645.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Eilis #3970, Karen #4645.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2010
Eilis held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Karen in 6.
Highest recorded here: Eilis #158 in 1999, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Eilis #430, 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 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
Side by side
| Field | Eilis | Karen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Northern Ireland · Girls #337 (2024) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Eilis and Karen both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Eilis
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #226 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 recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #158 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #337 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024.
Northern 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