Jude vs Kara
Jude 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 2008, Jude was ranked #439 and Kara #148 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Jude was ranked #727 and Kara #262 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Jude was ranked #541 and Kara #476 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jude was ranked #1894 and Kara #885 among girls in England and Wales.
Jude and Kara over time
Jude and Kara appear together in 2 published lists, across 45 years of shared records. Kara held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jude in 0.
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.
Jude reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jude held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Kara in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jude #918 in 2001, Kara #186 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jude #1894, Kara #885.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1971–2023
Jude held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Kara in 12.
Highest recorded here: Jude #285 in 1972, Kara #165 in 2015.
The order changed in 1980: Kara moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #348 and #388; by 1980 that had become #542 and #401.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Jude #727, Kara #262.
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 | Jude | Kara |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted through its Hebrew root as connected to 'praise', via its relationship to Judah — Behind the Name frames it more narrowly as a variant of Judas. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via Greek and Latin New Testament forms | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /dʒuːd/ | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #54 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #413 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jude has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Greek and Latin New Testament forms); Kara does not have one recorded yet.
- Jude and Kara both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Jude; Kara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Jude
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #234 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #54 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
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