Karen vs Katrina
Karen and Katrinacompared 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 Katrina #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Karen was ranked #100 and Katrina #59 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2016, Karen was ranked #156 and Katrina #526 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Karen was ranked #430 and Katrina #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Katrina #716 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Karen was ranked #4843 and Katrina #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Karen and Katrina over time
Karen and Katrina appear together in 5 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Katrina 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 4 of those lists, and Katrina 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, Katrina moved into the top 50 at #35 in 1982 as Karen fell out of it to #52, having been #34 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1980, Katrina moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #21 and #29 the year before became #31 and #29.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karen and Katrina changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #4843 and #4192.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Karen and Katrina averaged 38.6 places apart, ending at #98 and #55.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Katrina were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 51 years, from 1964 to 2019, ending at #871 and #716.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Katrina #177 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls51 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 49 of those years, Katrina in 2.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Katrina #172 in 1978.
The order changed in 2019: Katrina moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #471 and #734; by 2019 that had become #871 and #716.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Katrina #716.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Karen held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Katrina in 26.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Katrina #177 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Karen #4843, Katrina #4192.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1978–2016
Karen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Katrina in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #72 in 1997, Katrina #405 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Karen #156, Katrina #526.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1962–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Katrina in 7.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1963, Katrina #23 in 1981.
The order changed in 1980: Katrina moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #21 and #29; by 1980 that had become #31 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #98, Katrina #55.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1965–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Katrina in 7.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1965, Katrina #16 in 1975.
The order changed in 1982: Katrina moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #34 and #39; by 1982 that had become #52 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #100, Katrina #59.
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 | Katrina |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 #442 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #898 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Karen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Katrina.
- 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
Katrina
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1965–1990
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1965–1990).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4192 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls