Jeanette vs Karen
Jeanette 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 1963, Jeanette was ranked #86 and Karen #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1965, Jeanette was ranked #90 and Karen #1 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1992, Jeanette was ranked #338 and Karen #25 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2014, Jeanette was ranked #522 and Karen #215 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jeanette was ranked #5891 and Karen #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Jeanette and Karen over time
Jeanette and Karen appear together in 5 published lists, across 130 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jeanette in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Jeanette reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Karen 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jeanette and Karen changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1949 and 2014, ending at #522 and #215.
- Longest-running competitions
Jeanette and Karen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 59 years, from 1949 to 2014, ending at #522 and #215.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jeanette #1914 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls59 shared years, 1949–2014
Jeanette held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Karen in 32.
Highest recorded here: Jeanette #23 in 1986, Karen #66 in 1949.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Jeanette #522, Karen #215.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1964–1992
Jeanette held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jeanette #162 in 1964, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Jeanette #338, Karen #25.
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1996–2024
Jeanette held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jeanette #1914 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jeanette #5891, Karen #4843.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1952–1963
Jeanette held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jeanette #53 in 1956, Karen #1 in 1963.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1963: Jeanette #86, Karen #1.
New Zealand · Girls11 shared years, 1954–1965
Jeanette held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 11.
Highest recorded here: Jeanette #63 in 1955, Karen #1 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Jeanette #90, 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 Jeanette
Pairs where Jeanette shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elise vs Jeanette
Over 59 shared years in Norway · Girls, Elise rose about as far as Jeanette fell — from #187 and #342 in 1949 to #33 and #522 in 2014.
Elise · Jeanette · 59 shared years, 1949–2014 · Mirrored each other
- Ellinor vs Jeanette
Over 59 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ellinor rose about as far as Jeanette fell — from #130 and #342 in 1949 to #63 and #522 in 2014.
Ellinor · Jeanette · 59 shared years, 1949–2014 · Mirrored each other
- Hanna vs Jeanette
Over 59 shared years in Norway · Girls, Hanna rose about as far as Jeanette fell — from #172 and #342 in 1949 to #37 and #522 in 2014.
Hanna · Jeanette · 59 shared years, 1949–2014 · Mirrored each other
- Ingrid vs Jeanette
Over 59 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ingrid rose about as far as Jeanette fell — from #27 and #342 in 1949 to #7 and #522 in 2014.
Ingrid · Jeanette · 59 shared years, 1949–2014 · Mirrored each other
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
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — peaked in the same years.
- Jason vs Aaron
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jason #1 in 1970, Aaron #8 in 1972.
Jason · Aaron · 39 shared years, 1966–2004 · Peaked in the same years
- Ava vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Abigail #36 in 2008.
Ava · Abigail · 44 shared years, 1978–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Charlotte vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Charlotte #1 in 2012, Abigail #24 in 2010.
Charlotte · Abigail · 24 shared years, 2002–2025 · Peaked in the same years
- Emma vs Abigail
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Emma #1 in 2003, Abigail #29 in 2005.
Emma · Abigail · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1960s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1960 and 1969.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Jeanette | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5891 (2024) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jeanette has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Karen.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Jeanette
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #342 among girls in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1949–2014
Highest recorded position: #23 among girls in Norway, in 1986 (recorded 1949–2014).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5891 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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