Frances vs Karen
Frances 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 1965, Frances was ranked #98 and Karen #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Frances was ranked #88 and Karen #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Frances was ranked #370 and Karen #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Frances was ranked #379 and Karen #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Frances was ranked #871 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Frances and Karen over time
Frances and Karen appear together in 4 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Frances in 1.
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.
Frances reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Karen 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 1985, Frances moved ahead of Karen in New Zealand · Girls — #95 and #89 the year before became #88 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Frances and Karen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 49 years, from 1964 to 2019, ending at #871 and #871.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Frances #161 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1964–2019
Frances held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Karen in 46.
Highest recorded here: Frances #38 in 1964, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Frances #871, Karen #871.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Frances held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Frances #161 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Frances #379, Karen #2440.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1954–1985
Frances held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Karen in 14.
Highest recorded here: Frances #52 in 1954, Karen #1 in 1957.
The order changed in 1985: Frances moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #95 and #89; by 1985 that had become #88 and #99.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Frances #88, Karen #99.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1965
Frances held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 14.
Highest recorded here: Frances #62 in 1954, Karen #1 in 1963.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Frances #98, Karen #1.
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 Karen
Pairs where Karen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Karen vs Anna
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #34 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #19.
Karen · Anna · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #59.
Karen · Julia · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Maria
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #33 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #63.
Karen · Maria · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Christina
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #40 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #325.
Karen · Christina · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Frances | Karen |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #379 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Frances and Karen both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Frances
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #64 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 recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #38 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #379 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