Julia vs Karen
Julia 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Julia was ranked #54 and Karen #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Julia was ranked #59 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Julia was ranked #71 and Karen #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Julia was ranked #85 and Karen #442 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Julia was ranked #99 and Karen #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #223 and Karen #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Julia and Karen over time
Julia and Karen appear together in 6 published lists, across 191 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Julia in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 6 of those lists, and Julia 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Julia moved into the top 50 at #43 in 1982 as Karen fell out of it to #52, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1982, Julia moved ahead of Karen in New Zealand · Girls — #83 and #34 the year before became #43 and #52.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Julia and Karen changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2010, ending at #71 and #430.
- Longest-running competitions
Julia and Karen were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 70 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #85 and #442.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #42 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2019 they were #59 and #871.
List by list
Norway · Girls70 shared years, 1945–2025
Julia held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Karen in 41.
Highest recorded here: Julia #32 in 2013, Karen #67 in 1953.
The order changed in 2000: Julia moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #80 and #77; by 2000 that had become #71 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julia #85, Karen #442.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Julia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Karen in 39.
Highest recorded here: Julia #31 in 2009, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order changed in 2004: Julia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #143 and #132; by 2004 that had become #149 and #174.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Julia #59, Karen #871.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Julia held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Karen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Julia #77 in 2010, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julia #223, Karen #4843.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1970–1986
Julia held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Karen in 11.
Highest recorded here: Julia #26 in 1983, Karen #3 in 1970.
The order changed in 1982: Julia moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #83 and #34; by 1982 that had become #43 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Julia #54, Karen #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Julia held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Karen in 6.
Highest recorded here: Julia #69 in 2008, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order changed in 2007: Julia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #316 and #273; by 2007 that had become #97 and #413.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Julia #71, Karen #430.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1970–1985
Julia held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Karen in 10.
Highest recorded here: Julia #75 in 1984, Karen #2 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Julia #99, Karen #88.
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 | Julia | Karen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of the Roman family name Julius — borne by Julia Augusta and Julia the Elder, and by an early Christian martyr and patron saint of Corsica. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ | 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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Julia has a recorded origin (The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Julia and Karen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Julia; Karen doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Julia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1970–2001
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1970–2001).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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