Karen vs Margaret
Karen and Margaretcompared 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 1974, Karen was ranked #9 and Margaret #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Karen was ranked #89 and Margaret #80 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Margaret #196 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Karen was ranked #430 and Margaret #283 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Karen was ranked #352 and Margaret #522 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #2440 and Margaret #413 among girls in England and Wales.
Karen and Margaret over time
Karen and Margaret appear together in 6 published lists, across 196 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Margaret in 2.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.
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 1957, Karen moved ahead of Margaret in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #5 and #6.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karen and Margaret changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2010, ending at #430 and #283.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Karen and Margaret averaged 33.9 places apart, ending at #9 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Margaret were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 53 years, from 1945 to 2023, ending at #352 and #522.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Margaret in 34.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Margaret #2 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Margaret #196.
Norway · Girls53 shared years, 1945–2023
Karen held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Margaret in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #57 in 1946, Margaret #108 in 1953.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Karen #352, Margaret #522.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Margaret in 29.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Margaret #357 in 2020.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #2440, Margaret #413.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1954–1984
Karen held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Margaret in 3.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1957, Margaret #3 in 1954.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Karen #89, Margaret #80.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1952–1974
Karen held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Margaret in 5.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1963, Margaret #3 in 1952.
The order changed in 1957: Karen moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #6 and #5; by 1957 that had become #5 and #6.
Most recent shared year, 1974: Karen #9, Margaret #93.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Karen held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Margaret in 5.
Highest recorded here: Karen #133 in 1997, Margaret #119 in 2000.
The order changed in 2007: Margaret moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #273 and #372; by 2007 that had become #413 and #223.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Karen #430, Margaret #283.
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 | Margaret |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | From Latin Margarita, from Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl' — likely originally borrowed from an Indo-Iranian language. Associated with Saint Margaret, a 4th-century martyr and patron saint of expectant mothers. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmɑɹ.ɡɹɪt/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #135 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Margaret has a recorded origin (Greek); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Karen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Margaret.
- A meaning is recorded for Margaret; Karen doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Margaret
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #173 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls