Karen vs Maria
Karen and Mariacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #442 and Maria #62 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Maria #63 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Karen was ranked #100 and Maria #67 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Karen was ranked #430 and Maria #73 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Karen was ranked #88 and Maria #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Karen was ranked #4843 and Maria #91 among girls in England and Wales.
Karen and Maria over time
Karen and Maria appear together in 6 published lists, across 242 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Karen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Maria 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 1984, Maria moved ahead of Karen in New Zealand · Girls — #61 and #72 the year before became #89 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karen and Maria changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2019, ending at #871 and #63.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Karen and Maria averaged 26.2 places apart, ending at #88 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Maria were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 33 years, from 1952 to 1985, ending at #88 and #95.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Karen #133 in 1997, Maria #51 in 1999.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #33 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #63.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Maria in 70.
Highest recorded here: Karen #57 in 1946, Maria #3 in 1982.
The order changed in 1958: Maria moved ahead. In 1957 they stood at #73 and #76; by 1958 that had become #88 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #442, Maria #62.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Maria in 25.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Maria #23 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Maria #63.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls33 shared years, 1952–1985
Karen held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Maria in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1963, Maria #13 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Karen #88, Maria #95.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1954–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Maria in 3.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1957, Maria #21 in 1967.
The order changed in 1984: Maria moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #61 and #72; by 1984 that had become #89 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #100, Maria #67.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Karen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 28.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Maria #66 in 2018.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Karen #4843, Maria #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Karen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Maria in 11.
Highest recorded here: Karen #133 in 1997, Maria #51 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Karen #430, Maria #73.
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 | Maria |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Latin form of Greek Maria, from Hebrew Miryam (see Mary). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /mɑ.ˈriː.ɑ/ |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) | Norway · Girls #62 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Maria has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Latin transmission); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Karen and Maria both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Maria; 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 #442 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Maria
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1982 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #62 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls