Elise vs Karen
Elise 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 1986, Elise was ranked #52 and Karen #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Elise was ranked #63 and Karen #442 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Elise was ranked #160 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Elise was ranked #196 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Elise was ranked #320 and Karen #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Elise and Karen over time
Elise and Karen appear together in 4 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Elise held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Karen 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 4 of those lists, and Elise 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 2003, Elise moved ahead of Karen in Northern Ireland · Girls — #286 and #155 the year before became #147 and #225.
- Longest-running competitions
Elise and Karen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #63 and #442.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Elise held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Karen in 40.
Highest recorded here: Elise #23 in 2001, Karen #57 in 1946.
The order changed in 1985: Elise moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #96 and #93; by 1985 that had become #88 and #93.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elise #63, Karen #442.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1983–2019
Elise held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Karen in 17.
Highest recorded here: Elise #132 in 2014, Karen #9 in 1983.
The order changed in 2010: Elise moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #358 and #358; by 2010 that had become #236 and #475.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Elise #196, Karen #871.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Elise held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Elise #96 in 2002, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elise #320, Karen #4843.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2010
Elise held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Karen in 5.
Highest recorded here: Elise #147 in 2003, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order changed in 2003: Elise moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #286 and #155; by 2003 that had become #147 and #225.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Elise #160, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Elise | Karen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of Elizabeth, used across Germanic and Scandinavian languages. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via German/Scandinavian transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /eˈliː.seh/ | 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 #63 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Elise has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via German/Scandinavian transmission); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Elise has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Karen.
- A meaning is recorded for Elise; 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
Elise
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #223 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #63 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