Elaine vs Karla
Elaine and Karlacompared 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 2003, Elaine was ranked #331 and Karla #284 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elaine was ranked #608 and Karla #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Elaine was ranked #1160 and Karla #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Elaine and Karla over time
Elaine and Karla appear together in 2 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Elaine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Karla 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
Elaine and Karla changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1160 and #2115.
- Longest-running competitions
Elaine and Karla were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 44 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #608 and #718.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Elaine #823 in 1996, Karla #433 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1972–2025
Elaine held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Karla in 2.
Highest recorded here: Elaine #6 in 1982, Karla #194 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elaine #608, Karla #718.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Elaine held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Karla in 21.
Highest recorded here: Elaine #823 in 1996, Karla #433 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Elaine moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1705 and #1525; by 2024 that had become #1160 and #2115.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elaine #1160, Karla #2115.
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 Elaine
Pairs where Elaine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elaine vs Alice
In 1964 they stood at #58 and #57 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #41.
Elaine · Alice · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elaine vs Orla
In 1964 they stood at #58 and #52 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #189.
Elaine · Orla · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elaine vs Jane
In 1964 they stood at #58 and #59 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #213.
Elaine · Jane · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Louise vs Elaine
In 1964 they stood at #54 and #58 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #213 and #608.
Louise · Elaine · 59 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Elaine | Karla |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Norway · Girls #266 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Elaine has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Karla.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Elaine
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #71 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1982 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Karla
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #366 among girls in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #266 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls