Namewise

Fiona vs Karen

Fiona 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 Zealand · Girls

    In 1986, Fiona was ranked #68 and Karen #100 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1986, Fiona was ranked #74 and Karen #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Fiona was ranked #399 and Karen #442 among girls in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2019, Fiona was ranked #421 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2010, Fiona was ranked #430 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Fiona was ranked #1362 and Karen #2440 among girls in England and Wales.

Fiona and Karen over time

Fiona and Karen appear together in 6 published lists, across 192 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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 3 of those lists, Fiona in 1. 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 1985, Fiona moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #63 and #60 the year before became #56 and #88.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Fiona and Karen changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1955 and 1986, ending at #68 and #100.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Karen averaged 25.1 places apart, ending at #74 and #98.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Fiona and Karen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 31 years, from 1956 to 1986, ending at #74 and #98.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #32 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #421 and #871.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019

    Fiona held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Karen in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Karen #5 in 1977.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Fiona #421, Karen #871.

  • Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1963–2025

    Fiona held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Karen in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Fiona #207 in 2015, Karen #77 in 1999.

    The order changed in 2021: Fiona moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #358 and #294; by 2021 that had become #242 and #265.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #399, Karen #442.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1956–1986

    Fiona held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Karen in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Karen #1 in 1963.

    The order changed in 1985: Fiona moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #63 and #60; by 1985 that had become #56 and #88.

    Most recent shared year, 1986: Fiona #74, Karen #98.

  • New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1955–1986

    Fiona held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Karen in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Karen #1 in 1957.

    The order changed in 1984: Fiona moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #65 and #61; by 1984 that had become #88 and #89.

    Most recent shared year, 1986: Fiona #68, Karen #100.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025

    Fiona held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Karen in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #1362, Karen #2440.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010

    Fiona held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Karen in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Karen #133 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2010: Fiona #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 Fiona

Pairs where Fiona shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Karen

Pairs where Karen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Fiona, Karen
FieldFionaKaren
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningThe feminine form of Fionn. Popularized by Scottish poet James Macpherson in his 1761 poem Fingal, where it was spelled 'Fióna'.Not yet recorded
OriginScottish, feminine of FionnNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/fi.ˈoʊ.nə/Not yet recorded
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025)Norway · Girls #442 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Fiona has a recorded origin (Scottish, feminine of Fionn); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
  • Fiona and Karen both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Fiona; 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

Fiona

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1955

    First recorded at #87 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Karen

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1986

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1963 (recorded 1952–1986).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls