Joanne vs Kara
Joanne 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Joanne was ranked #747 and Kara #237 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Joanne was ranked #446 and Kara #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Joanne was ranked #2000 and Kara #885 among girls in England and Wales.
Joanne and Kara over time
Joanne and Kara appear together in 3 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Kara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Joanne 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.
Joanne 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Joanne and Kara were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 49 years, from 1970 to 2022, ending at #747 and #237.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1970–2022
Joanne held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Kara in 17.
Highest recorded here: Joanne #29 in 1979, Kara #165 in 2015.
The order changed in 2005: Kara moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #242 and #414; by 2005 that had become #461 and #320.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Joanne #747, Kara #237.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Joanne held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Kara in 27.
Highest recorded here: Joanne #168 in 1996, Kara #186 in 2011.
The order changed in 1998: Kara moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #223 and #230; by 1998 that had become #275 and #257.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joanne #2000, Kara #885.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2021
Joanne held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Kara in 8.
Highest recorded here: Joanne #101 in 1997, Kara #93 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Joanne #446, Kara #446.
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 Joanne
Pairs where Joanne shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Joanne vs Patricia
Joanne and Patricia changed places 18 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2022, ending at #747 and #458.
Joanne · Patricia · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joanne vs Denise
Joanne and Denise changed places 17 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2020, ending at #628 and #834.
Joanne · Denise · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joanne vs Lorraine
Joanne and Lorraine changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2018, ending at #734 and #896.
Joanne · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joanne vs Marie
Joanne and Marie changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2022, ending at #747 and #905.
Joanne · Marie · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Joanne | Kara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A variant of Joan/Johanne, ultimately from the same Hebrew-via-Greek-via-Old-French tradition as John (Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious') — sometimes also read as a blend of Jo and Anne. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English and French, from Hebrew via Greek Ioannes | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /d͡ʒoʊ.ˈæn/ | 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, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2000 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Joanne has a recorded origin (English and French, from Hebrew via Greek Ioannes); Kara does not have one recorded yet.
- Joanne and Kara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Joanne; Kara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Joanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #77 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 recorded1954–1986
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1969 (recorded 1954–1986).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2000 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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