Julie vs Karen
Julie 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #60 and Karen #442 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Julie was ranked #92 and Karen #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Julie was ranked #97 and Karen #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Julie was ranked #439 and Karen #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Julie was ranked #457 and Karen #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Julie was ranked #1639 and Karen #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Julie and Karen over time
Julie and Karen appear together in 6 published lists, across 236 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Julie in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 of those lists, Julie 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1981, Julie moved ahead of Karen in Norway · Girls — #108 and #93 the year before became #77 and #95.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Julie and Karen changed places 13 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1639 and #2440.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Julie and Karen averaged 10.2 places apart, ending at #92 and #98.
- Longest-running competitions
Julie and Karen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 35 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #92 and #98.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Julie #436 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls74 shared years, 1945–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 47 of those years, Karen in 27.
Highest recorded here: Julie #1 in 2001, Karen #57 in 1946.
The order changed in 1981: Julie moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #108 and #93; by 1981 that had become #77 and #95.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #60, Karen #442.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Julie held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Karen in 38.
Highest recorded here: Julie #51 in 1977, Karen #5 in 1977.
The order changed in 2004: Julie moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #132 and #132; by 2004 that had become #133 and #174.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Julie #457, Karen #871.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls35 shared years, 1952–1986
Julie held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Karen in 24.
Highest recorded here: Julie #3 in 1956, Karen #1 in 1963.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Julie #92, Karen #98.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1986
Julie held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Karen in 28.
Highest recorded here: Julie #4 in 1960, Karen #1 in 1957.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Julie #97, Karen #100.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Julie held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Karen in 14.
Highest recorded here: Julie #436 in 1996, Karen #417 in 1996.
The order changed in 2021: Julie moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1773 and #1773; by 2021 that had become #2499 and #3192.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julie #1639, Karen #2440.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1997–2008
Julie held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Karen in 4.
Highest recorded here: Julie #112 in 1998, Karen #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Julie #439, Karen #439.
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 | Julie | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #60 (2025) | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Julie and Karen both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Julie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #305 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1639 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
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