Karen vs Katherine
Karen and Katherinecompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Karen was ranked #98 and Katherine #29 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Karen was ranked #100 and Katherine #42 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Karen was ranked #94 and Katherine #334 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Karen was ranked #430 and Katherine #194 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Karen was ranked #4843 and Katherine #594 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Katherine #621 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Karen and Katherine over time
Karen and Katherine appear together in 6 published lists, across 179 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Katherine in 2.
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, Katherine in 2. 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, Katherine moved into the top 50 at #34 in 1982 as Karen fell out of it to #52, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1982, Katherine moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #32 and #33 the year before became #41 and #24.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Karen and Katherine averaged 47.7 places apart, ending at #98 and #29.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Katherine were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 31 years, from 1956 to 1986, ending at #98 and #29.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Katherine in 17.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Katherine #71 in 1965.
The order changed in 2004: Katherine moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #132 and #150; by 2004 that had become #174 and #140.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Katherine #621.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1956–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Katherine in 6.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1963, Katherine #24 in 1982.
The order changed in 1982: Katherine moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #32 and #33; by 1982 that had become #41 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #98, Katherine #29.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Karen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 28.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Katherine #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Karen #4843, Katherine #594.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1955–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Katherine in 5.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1964, Katherine #32 in 1984.
The order changed in 1982: Katherine moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #34 and #36; by 1982 that had become #52 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #100, Katherine #42.
Norway · Girls25 shared years, 1963–2001
Karen held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Katherine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #72 in 1997, Katherine #323 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Karen #94, Katherine #334.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Karen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Katherine in 11.
Highest recorded here: Karen #133 in 1997, Katherine #56 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Karen #430, Katherine #194.
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 | Karen | Katherine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Karen has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Katherine.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
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
Katherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #100 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2000
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1956–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls