Karen vs Linda
Karen and Lindacompared 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 1979, Karen was ranked #29 and Linda #76 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Karen was ranked #98 and Linda #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Karen was ranked #145 and Linda #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Karen was ranked #428 and Linda #376 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Linda #421 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #2440 and Linda #1892 among girls in England and Wales.
Karen and Linda over time
Karen and Linda appear together in 5 published lists, across 223 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Linda 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 2 of those lists, Linda 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 1955, Karen moved ahead of Linda in New Zealand · Girls — #14 and #9 the year before became #6 and #9.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karen and Linda changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2440 and #1892.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Karen and Linda averaged 18.1 places apart, ending at #98 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Linda were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 35 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #98 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
List by list
Norway · Girls79 shared years, 1945–2024
Karen held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Linda in 43.
Highest recorded here: Karen #57 in 1946, Linda #1 in 1975.
The order changed in 2024: Linda moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #352 and #355; by 2024 that had become #428 and #376.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Karen #428, Linda #376.
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Linda in 12.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Linda #13 in 1973.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Linda #421.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls35 shared years, 1952–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Linda in 3.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1963, Linda #12 in 1963.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #98, Linda #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Linda in 12.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
The order changed in 2019: Linda moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #1490 and #1526; by 2019 that had become #1940 and #1349.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #2440, Linda #1892.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1954–1979
Karen held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Linda in 1.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1957, Linda #7 in 1957.
The order changed in 1955: Karen moved ahead. In 1954 they stood at #14 and #9; by 1955 that had become #6 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Karen #29, Linda #76.
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 | Linda |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 #442 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (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
- Karen and Linda both have 2 syllables.
- 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 #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1892 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls