Karen vs Lorraine
Karen and Lorrainecompared 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 1966, Karen was ranked #1 and Lorraine #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1965, Karen was ranked #1 and Lorraine #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Karen was ranked #145 and Lorraine #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Karen was ranked #629 and Lorraine #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Karen was ranked #4843 and Lorraine #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Karen and Lorraine over time
Karen and Lorraine appear together in 4 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lorraine 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.
Lorraine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Karen 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 1954, Karen moved ahead of Lorraine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #35 and #29 the year before became #13 and #31.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Lorraine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #629 and #896.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2018 they were #629 and #896.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1964–2018
Karen held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Lorraine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Lorraine #14 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Karen #629, Lorraine #896.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Karen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Lorraine in 1.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Lorraine moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #3192 and #4634; by 2022 that had become #4645 and #4645.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Karen #4843, Lorraine #2115.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1952–1966
Karen held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Lorraine in 2.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1963, Lorraine #27 in 1952.
The order changed in 1954: Karen moved ahead. In 1953 they stood at #35 and #29; by 1954 that had become #13 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Karen #1, Lorraine #82.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1954–1965
Karen held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Lorraine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1957, Lorraine #26 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Karen #1, Lorraine #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.
Side by side
| Field | Karen | Lorraine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Karen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Lorraine.
- 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 #442 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Lorraine
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #27 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 recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls