Emma vs Karen
Emma 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, Emma was ranked #1 and Karen #442 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Emma was ranked #3 and Karen #100 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Emma was ranked #8 and Karen #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Emma was ranked #9 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Emma was ranked #12 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Karen #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Emma and Karen over time
Emma and Karen appear together in 6 published lists, across 206 years of shared records. Emma held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Karen in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 6 of those lists, and Emma 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 1978, Emma moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #18 and #12 the year before became #14 and #18.
- Longest-running competitions
Emma and Karen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 75 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #1 and #442.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls75 shared years, 1945–2025
Emma held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Karen in 42.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Karen #57 in 1946.
The order changed in 1993: Emma moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #97 and #92; by 1993 that had become #89 and #119.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #1, Karen #442.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Emma held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Karen in 17.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order changed in 1981: Emma moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #11 and #10; by 1981 that had become #7 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Emma #12, Karen #871.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Emma held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Karen #4843.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1969–1986
Emma held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Karen in 9.
Highest recorded here: Emma #8 in 1986, Karen #2 in 1969.
The order changed in 1978: Emma moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #18 and #12; by 1978 that had become #14 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Emma #8, Karen #98.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1969–1986
Emma held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Karen in 9.
Highest recorded here: Emma #3 in 1982, Karen #3 in 1969.
The order changed in 1978: Emma moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #17 and #16; by 1978 that had become #16 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Emma #3, Karen #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Emma held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Emma #9, 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 | Emma | Karen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A shortened form of Germanic names beginning with the element 'irmin' ('whole, great'), from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred II and later King Canute; further popularised by Jane Austen's 1816 novel Emma. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛm.ə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Emma and Karen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Emma; 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
Emma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #342 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1969–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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