Jane vs Karen
Jane 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 1984, Jane was ranked #93 and Karen #60 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Jane was ranked #81 and Karen #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2013, Jane was ranked #576 and Karen #136 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Jane was ranked #141 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Jane was ranked #237 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #1160 and Karen #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Jane and Karen over time
Jane and Karen appear together in 6 published lists, across 222 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jane in 2.
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, Jane 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 1984, Jane moved ahead of Karen in New Zealand · Girls — #75 and #61 the year before became #73 and #89.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jane and Karen changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1160 and #4843.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jane and Karen averaged 34.7 places apart, ending at #93 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Jane and Karen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1952 to 1984, ending at #93 and #60.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jane #316 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls61 shared years, 1945–2013
Jane held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Karen in 44.
Highest recorded here: Jane #73 in 1960, Karen #57 in 1946.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Jane #576, Karen #136.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Jane held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Karen in 34.
Highest recorded here: Jane #59 in 1964, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order changed in 1998: Jane moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #62 and #61; by 1998 that had become #64 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Jane #141, Karen #871.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1984
Jane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 33.
Highest recorded here: Jane #25 in 1966, Karen #1 in 1963.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Jane #93, Karen #60.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1986
Jane held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Karen in 30.
Highest recorded here: Jane #28 in 1957, Karen #1 in 1957.
The order changed in 1984: Jane moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #75 and #61; by 1984 that had become #73 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Jane #81, Karen #100.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Karen in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jane #316 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #1160, Karen #4843.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Jane held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jane #80 in 2000, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Jane #237, 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 | Jane | 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Jane and Karen both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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