Karen vs Rebecca
Karen and Rebeccacompared 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 1986, Karen was ranked #98 and Rebecca #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Karen was ranked #100 and Rebecca #4 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Karen was ranked #430 and Rebecca #37 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Rebecca #84 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #2440 and Rebecca #413 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #442 and Rebecca #485 among girls in Norway.
Karen and Rebecca over time
Karen and Rebecca appear together in 6 published lists, across 200 years of shared records. Rebecca held the stronger position in more years in 5 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 4 of those lists, Rebecca 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 1974, Rebecca moved ahead of Karen in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #6 and #7 the year before became #9 and #5.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karen and Rebecca changed places 12 times in Norway · Girls between 1955 and 2025, ending at #442 and #485.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Karen and Rebecca averaged 36.0 places apart, ending at #98 and #3.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Rebecca were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 62 years, from 1955 to 2025, ending at #442 and #485.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Rebecca #8 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls62 shared years, 1955–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Rebecca in 11.
Highest recorded here: Karen #72 in 1997, Rebecca #55 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #442, Rebecca #485.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Rebecca in 30.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Rebecca #7 in 1995.
The order changed in 1990: Rebecca moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #19 and #22; by 1990 that had become #19 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Rebecca #84.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rebecca in 29.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Rebecca #8 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #2440, Rebecca #413.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1966–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Rebecca in 13.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1966, Rebecca #1 in 1976.
The order changed in 1974: Rebecca moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #6 and #7; by 1974 that had become #9 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #98, Rebecca #3.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1966–1986
Karen held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Rebecca in 14.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1967, Rebecca #2 in 1977.
The order changed in 1973: Rebecca moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #9 and #20; by 1973 that had become #10 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Karen #100, Rebecca #4.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2010
Karen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Rebecca in 11.
Highest recorded here: Karen #133 in 1997, Rebecca #2 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Karen #430, Rebecca #37.
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 | Rebecca |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally associated with concepts of 'joining', 'tying', or a 'team/yoke' — a binding or connecting sense, from a Semitic root about fastening things together. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /rəˈbɛkə/ |
| 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 #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Rebecca has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka); Karen does not have one recorded yet.
- Karen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Rebecca.
- A meaning is recorded for Rebecca; 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
Rebecca
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #440 among girls in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2008
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1966–2008).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #413 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls