Karen vs Nicola
Karen and Nicolacompared 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 1986, Karen was ranked #100 and Nicola #13 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Karen was ranked #430 and Nicola #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Nicola #551 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #2440 and Nicola #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Karen and Nicola over time
Karen and Nicola appear together in 4 published lists, across 126 years of shared records. Nicola held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Karen 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, and Nicola in none. 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 1971, Nicola moved ahead of Karen in New Zealand · Girls — #3 and #6 the year before became #6 and #5.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karen and Nicola changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2019, ending at #871 and #551.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Karen and Nicola averaged 31.2 places apart, ending at #100 and #13.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Nicola were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 30 years, from 1957 to 1986, ending at #100 and #13.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Nicola in 26.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Nicola #17 in 1986.
The order changed in 2001: Nicola moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #82 and #84; by 2001 that had become #116 and #109.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Nicola #551.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1957–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Nicola in 16.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1957, Nicola #2 in 1975.
The order changed in 1971: Nicola moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #3 and #6; by 1971 that had become #6 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #100, Nicola #13.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Nicola in 28.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Nicola #87 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Karen moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #4843 and #2253; by 2025 that had become #2440 and #4201.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #2440, Nicola #4201.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Karen held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Nicola in 10.
Highest recorded here: Karen #133 in 1997, Nicola #72 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Karen #430, Nicola #237.
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 | Nicola |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, feminine form |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola has a recorded origin (Greek, feminine form); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Karen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Nicola.
- A meaning is recorded for Nicola; Karen doesn't have one written yet.
- 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 #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls