Karen vs Olaug
Karen and Olaugcompared 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 2008, Karen was ranked #138 and Olaug #609 among girls in Norway.
Karen and Olaug over time
Karen and Olaug appear together in 1 published list, across 53 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Olaug in 0.
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.
Olaug reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Karen 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 1946, Karen moved ahead of Olaug in Norway · Girls — #70 and #68 the year before became #57 and #78.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Olaug were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 53 years, from 1945 to 2008, ending at #138 and #609.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Karen #57 in 1946, Olaug #68 in 1945.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1945 they stood at #70 and #68 in Norway · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2008 they were #138 and #609.
List by list
Norway · Girls53 shared years, 1945–2008
Karen held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Olaug in 1.
Highest recorded here: Karen #57 in 1946, Olaug #68 in 1945.
The order changed in 1946: Karen moved ahead. In 1945 they stood at #70 and #68; by 1946 that had become #57 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Karen #138, Olaug #609.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Karen
Pairs where Karen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Karen vs Anna
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #34 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #19.
Karen · Anna · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #59.
Karen · Julia · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Maria
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #33 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #63.
Karen · Maria · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Christina
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #40 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #325.
Karen · Christina · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Karen | Olaug |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) | Norway · Girls #609 (2008) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 40/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Karen and Olaug both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in NO.
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
Olaug
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #68 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2008
Highest recorded position: #68 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2008).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2008
Most recently recorded at #609 among girls in Norway, in 2008.
Norway · Girls