Jenna vs Kara
Jenna and Karacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Jenna was ranked #336 and Kara #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jenna was ranked #885 and Kara #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jenna was ranked #638 and Kara #476 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jenna was ranked #1302 and Kara #885 among girls in England and Wales.
Jenna and Kara over time
Jenna and Kara appear together in 3 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Jenna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Kara in 1.
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.
Jenna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Kara 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 2010, Kara moved ahead of Jenna in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #197 and #201 the year before became #225 and #191.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jenna and Kara changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2019, ending at #336 and #336.
- Longest-running competitions
Jenna and Kara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 41 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #885 and #413.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Jenna #74 in 2005, Kara #93 in 2006.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1979–2025
Jenna held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kara in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jenna #107 in 1984, Kara #165 in 2015.
The order changed in 2010: Kara moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #197 and #201; by 2010 that had become #225 and #191.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jenna #885, Kara #413.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jenna held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Kara in 16.
Highest recorded here: Jenna #148 in 1997, Kara #186 in 2011.
The order changed in 2016: Kara moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #455 and #461; by 2016 that had become #560 and #347.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jenna #1302, Kara #885.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2019
Jenna held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Kara in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jenna #74 in 2005, Kara #93 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Jenna #336, Kara #336.
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 | Jenna | Kara |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jenna and Kara both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Jenna
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #391 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1983–2004
Highest recorded position: #12 among girls in New Zealand, in 1985 (recorded 1983–2004).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Kara
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #396 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2023
Highest recorded position: #93 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1997–2023).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls