Karen vs Lesley
Karen and Lesleycompared 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 1967, Karen was ranked #1 and Lesley #89 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1967, Karen was ranked #2 and Lesley #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2002, Karen was ranked #176 and Lesley #512 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1999, Karen was ranked #213 and Lesley #259 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Karen was ranked #4843 and Lesley #3695 among girls in England and Wales.
Karen and Lesley over time
Karen and Lesley appear together in 4 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lesley in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lesley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Karen 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1953, Karen moved ahead of Lesley in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #35 and #34 the year before became #35 and #38.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Lesley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1964 to 2002, ending at #176 and #512.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Lesley #671 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1964–2002
Karen held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Lesley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Lesley #133 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Karen #176, Lesley #512.
England and Wales · Girls24 shared years, 1996–2024
Karen held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Lesley in 1.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Lesley #671 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Lesley moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1490 and #5666; by 2024 that had become #4843 and #3695.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Karen #4843, Lesley #3695.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1967
Karen held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Lesley in 1.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1963, Lesley #34 in 1952.
The order changed in 1953: Karen moved ahead. In 1952 they stood at #35 and #34; by 1953 that had become #35 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Karen #2, Lesley #100.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1954–1967
Karen held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Lesley in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1957, Lesley #37 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1967: Karen #1, Lesley #89.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Karen
Pairs where Karen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Karen vs Anna
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #34 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #19.
Karen · Anna · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #59.
Karen · Julia · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Maria
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #33 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #63.
Karen · Maria · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Christina
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #40 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #325.
Karen · Christina · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Karen | Lesley |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Karen and Lesley both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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 #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Lesley
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #34 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1967
Highest recorded position: #34 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1967).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls