Karen vs Susan
Karen and Susancompared 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 1984, Karen was ranked #89 and Susan #86 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1985, Karen was ranked #88 and Susan #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2003, Karen was ranked #110 and Susan #570 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2008, Karen was ranked #439 and Susan #311 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Karen was ranked #871 and Susan #621 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Karen was ranked #2440 and Susan #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Karen and Susan over time
Karen and Susan appear together in 6 published lists, across 210 years of shared records. Karen held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Susan in 0.
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.
Susan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Karen in 2. 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 1961, Karen moved ahead of Susan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #2 and #3.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karen and Susan changed places 10 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2440 and #2440.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Karen and Susan averaged 17.8 places apart, ending at #88 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Karen and Susan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 34 years, from 1952 to 1985, ending at #88 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Karen #417 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2019
Karen held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Susan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Karen #5 in 1977, Susan #14 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Karen #871, Susan #621.
Norway · Girls52 shared years, 1946–2003
Karen held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Susan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Karen #57 in 1946, Susan #172 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Karen #110, Susan #570.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls34 shared years, 1952–1985
Karen held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Susan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1963, Susan #1 in 1954.
The order changed in 1961: Karen moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #4 and #2; by 1961 that had become #2 and #3.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Karen #88, Susan #96.
New Zealand · Girls30 shared years, 1954–1984
Karen held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Susan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Karen #1 in 1957, Susan #1 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Karen #89, Susan #86.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Karen held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Susan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Karen #417 in 1996, Susan #397 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Karen #2440, Susan #2440.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2008
Karen held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Susan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Karen #133 in 1997, Susan #187 in 1998.
The order changed in 2004: Susan moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #225 and #331; by 2004 that had become #273 and #212.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Karen #439, Susan #311.
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 | Susan |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #442 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (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 Susan 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
Susan
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #239 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1985
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1954 (recorded 1952–1985).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls