Karen vs Marie
Karen and Mariecompared 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 1965, Karen was ranked #1 and Marie #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #442 and Marie #45 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1982, Karen was ranked #52 and Marie #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Marie #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Karen was ranked #439 and Marie #370 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #2440 and Marie #778 among girls in England and Wales.
Karen and Marie over time
Karen and Marie appear together in 5 published lists, across 202 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Marie in 2.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Marie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1977, Marie moved ahead of Karen in Norway · Girls — #107 and #108 the year before became #106 and #84.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karen and Marie changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #442 and #45.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Karen and Marie averaged 59.2 places apart, ending at #52 and #89.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Marie were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #442 and #45.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Marie #288 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1945 they stood at #70 and #73 in Norway · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #442 and #45.
List by list
Norway · Girls81 shared years, 1945–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Marie in 54.
Highest recorded here: Karen #57 in 1946, Marie #12 in 1992.
The order changed in 1977: Marie moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #107 and #108; by 1977 that had become #106 and #84.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #442, Marie #45.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Marie in 18.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Marie #19 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Marie #325.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Marie in 29.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Marie #288 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #2440, Marie #778.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1954–1982
Karen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Marie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1957, Marie #38 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1982: Karen #52, Marie #89.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1952–1965
Karen held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Marie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1965, Marie #60 in 1952.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Karen #1, Marie #100.
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 | Marie |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) | Norway · Girls #45 (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 Marie 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
Marie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 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: #12 among girls in Norway, in 1992 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #778 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls