Emilie vs Karen
Emilie 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Emilie was ranked #16 and Karen #442 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Emilie was ranked #283 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Emilie was ranked #502 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Emilie was ranked #596 and Karen #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Emilie and Karen over time
Emilie and Karen appear together in 3 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Emilie held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Karen in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, and Emilie 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 1989, Emilie moved ahead of Karen in Norway · Girls — #155 and #110 the year before became #89 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Emilie and Karen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 49 years, from 1958 to 2025, ending at #16 and #442.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Emilie #1 in 1999, Karen #72 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls49 shared years, 1958–2025
Emilie held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Karen in 12.
Highest recorded here: Emilie #1 in 1999, Karen #72 in 1997.
The order changed in 1989: Emilie moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #155 and #110; by 1989 that had become #89 and #100.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emilie #16, Karen #442.
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1982–2019
Emilie held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Karen in 23.
Highest recorded here: Emilie #236 in 2010, Karen #9 in 1983.
The order changed in 2012: Emilie moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #550 and #465; by 2012 that had become #398 and #510.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Emilie #502, Karen #871.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Emilie held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emilie #232 in 2013, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emilie #596, Karen #2440.
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 | Emilie | Karen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The German, Scandinavian and Czech feminine form of Aemilius (see Emily). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin, via German/Scandinavian transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeh.mee.lee.eh/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Emilia, Emelie, Mille, Milly | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #16 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Emilie has a recorded origin (Latin, via German/Scandinavian transmission); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Emilie has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Karen.
- A meaning is recorded for Emilie; Karen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Emilie a "high" Data Confidence level and Karen a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Emilie
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #383 among girls in Norway in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1999 (recorded 1958–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #596 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls