Karine vs Monica
Karine and Monicacompared 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 2017, Karine was ranked #495 and Monica #542 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2008, Karine was ranked #5545 and Monica #722 among girls in England and Wales.
Karine and Monica over time
Karine and Monica appear together in 1 published list, across 54 years of shared records. Monica held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Karine 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.
Monica reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Karine 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Karine and Monica changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1958 and 2017, ending at #495 and #542.
- Longest-running competitions
Karine and Monica were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 54 years, from 1958 to 2017, ending at #495 and #542.
List by list
Norway · Girls54 shared years, 1958–2017
Karine held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Monica in 42.
Highest recorded here: Karine #186 in 1980, Monica #3 in 1971.
The order changed in 2012: Karine moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #543 and #481; by 2012 that had become #399 and #544.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Karine #495, Monica #542.
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 Monica
Pairs where Monica shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Monica vs Maeve
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #80 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #80.
Monica · Maeve · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Monica
In 1964 they stood at #68 and #70 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2023 they were #316 and #727.
Jennifer · Monica · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Monica vs Claire
In 1964 they stood at #70 and #75 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #727 and #339.
Monica · Claire · 53 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Monica
Over 69 shared years in Norway · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Monica fell — from #46 and #315 in 1946 to #9 and #542 in 2017.
Anna · Monica · 69 shared years, 1946–2017 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Karine | Monica |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Precise meaning uncertain — most likely of Berber or Phoenician origin; since the Middle Ages popularly associated with Latin 'moneo' ('to advise') and Greek 'monos' ('one, single'). Borne by the 4th-century North African saint who was mother of Saint Augustine. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician) |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmoː.ni.kaː/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Monika, Mona |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #460 (2018) | England and Wales · Girls #1229 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Monica has a recorded origin (Uncertain (Berber or Phoenician)); Karine does not have one recorded yet.
- Karine and Monica both have 3 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Monica; Karine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NO.
- The available evidence gives Karine a "medium" Data Confidence level and Monica a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Karine
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #422 among girls in Norway in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1958–2018
Highest recorded position: #186 among girls in Norway, in 1980 (recorded 1958–2018).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2018
Most recently recorded at #460 among girls in Norway, in 2018.
Norway · Girls
Monica
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #315 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2017
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Norway, in 1971 (recorded 1946–2017).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1229 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls